ICON Fatal Accident

[FlyingMonkey]

RIP to the pilot and passenger:

https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Two-Killed-In-Icon-A5-Crash-228966-1.html

[Anticept]

On mobile, that link is leading right back to this site.

[FlyingMonkey]

I reset the link, it works for me.

[Anticept]

Works now.

[Tom Baker]

I had the same problem at first using a PC.

[WmInce]

Original post loaded just fine on my Mac and iPad.

[FlyingMonkey]

I'm kind of surprised that the web link is generating more discussion than the accident! 

[cdarza]

Not much to say except RIP to the Pilot and Passenger and condolences to the families.    Always a heavy heart to hear of a fellow aviator pass in this manner.     

[Runtoeat]

Yes, a sad day for families and friends.  Is there any word on the cause?

[CT4ME]

New witness reports say it was maneuvering at cruising speed about 30-50 feet above the water, and turned into a cove seconds before the crash.  Earlier speculation was that they hit low wires.  There is some discussion now about the cove being a box canyon.  

One of my dislikes of the Icon A5 has been the marketing, especially the constant feel-good videos of the plane(s) zipping around at very low levels.  

https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/A5-Maneuvering-at-Low-Altitude-Prior-to-Crash-228982-1.html 

[SportFlyer1]

It seems to go with the amphibian territory. SeaRey owner videos often feature some dicey low level flying. On the positive side, when over water its the same as us being over a runway. On the bad side, it is the reason that amphib's have a high accident rate. All that low level flying is very demanding and a moment's lapse of attention can put you in the drink. But I too really don't like the manufacturer promoting risky behavior, that will bite his customers in the end and put us all in a bad light.

[Ed Cesnalis]

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20170508X45426&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=FA

 

 

[CT4ME]

Wow... Icon just announced 30-50% price increases.... $389K loaded, $269K base (and they won't sell any base until at least 2019!)

[SportFlyer1]

Man, if I could spell Chuztpah, I'd respond to this.....

[WmInce]

12 hours ago, CT4ME said:

Wow... Icon just announced 30-50% price increases.... $389K loaded, $269K base (and they won't sell any base until at least 2019!)

No way.

[SportFlyer1]

Well this is the effect of all their previous overspending. They are in hock over $60 million to their Chinese part owners and it looks like they are trying to pay it back with the first 5 planes, lol.

[FlyingMonkey]

3 hours ago, SportFlyer1 said:

Well this is the effect of all their previous overspending. They are in hock over $60 million to their Chinese part owners and it looks like they are trying to pay it back with the first 5 planes, lol.

As if they are ever going to deliver five planes.  

[Runtoeat]

Looks like there's two threads going on the Icon.  I put a comment on the new thread of price increase.

[CT4ME]

Eegad... another Icon A5 fatal crash....  RIP Roy Halladay

http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2017/11/icon-a5-n922ba-n529pg-llc-fatal.html

http://www.wtsp.com/news/former-mlb-pitcher-roy-halladay-killed-in-gulf-of-mexico-plane-crash/489944976 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/11/07/roy-halladay-plane-crash/841101001/

 

[Duane Jefts]

I'm beginning to think that the airplane might not be a good deal at any price point.  That is so sad.

[FlyingMonkey]

I think part of the problem is marketing.  Icon describes the A5 as being like "a jet ski with wings".  Well, a jet ski is easy to use, and anybody can get the hang of it, so the A5 must be similar...right?

These airplanes are not designed as traveling airplanes, but as fun toys.  Look at the Icon web page.  There is embedded video playing, and I encourage you to watch the whole thing, it's probably 30-60 seconds long.  It shows A5s zooming down rivers, over glassy water, and across terrain.  Never at over 100ft AGL.  On their "photos" page there is not a single picture of an ICON flying above 2000ft AGL.  They are marketing this as something to be flown in literally the MOST dangerous way you can fly an airplane.

https://www.iconaircraft.com/home

[WmInce]

In the ad, I didn't see any power poles or suspension wires, not even during the short towing scene, while the iCon is being trailered.

IMO, wires are one of the biggest dangers in doing that type of flying. What's more, wires often cross over bodies of water, especially small rivers, as depicted in the ad.

For the newly minted pilot, wires are very hard to pick up. Some are extremely hard to see, even for the veteran. How many stories have we heard, of light aircraft hitting wires at low altitude?

Based upon that ad, it does appear that iCon is making an attractive pitch for low level fun.

[FlyingMonkey]

I agree Bill.  Towers and obstacles are pretty apparent, wires are not.

[ls6pilot]

As they say: "You can only tie the record for flying low"

[CT4ME]

Too little, too late.... Icon's very recently issued "Low altitude flying guidelines", published just over 2 weeks ago:

https://www.iconaircraft.com/updates/2017/icon-aircraft-low-altitude-flying-guidelines