airplane hits man taking photo

[Tom H]

I've read that being in a relaxed state can reduce injury during a sudden crash.

So starting the day at Select may have saved your life Ed!

Stay well and see you soon

Tom

 

[EddyG]

Being in St. Barth puts you in a relaxed state - or island. I left Le Select around 1, rode my bike up to the circle and the "incident" happened around 4:30. I was taking photos for several hours that day. It takes a long time to get one good one.

I am 6 ft. tall and was standing on the ground, so the plane was just less than 6 ft. BEFORE the traffic circle. Friends of friends were on that very plane in the first row and told me that they and the pilot felt the hit. This plane would have been less than 6 ft. at the circle. A truck then would have caused a crash. Maybe my head caused the pilot to pull up a bit over the traffic circle.

Was this a time that I was using my head?

As far as I know I was in an unrestricted area. I have never entered a restricted area to take a photo. There are signs on the other side of the circle restricting access, but nothing that I saw where I was.

The plane landed safely and I'm still posting so it worked out. My guess is that changes may be made in the future.

The image with this post is a favorite because it included the windsurfers - at the end of the runway in the restricted zone.

Things happen in St. Barth.


Thanks for all of the nice comments!

 

[JEK]

Amazing story Ed. I'm buying you a bottle of rosé when I see you at Select

 

[Jim Kelly-Evans]

> Things happen in St. Barth.

Says it all... usually a great time is had by all, no?

 

[sbhlvr]

Lance, I don't know what happened to that aircraft. I wasn't at the controls. All I can say is, that having landed over 1000 times in St Barths myself, the approach is dangerous and difficult. The pilot can never rest on his/her previous experience when landing in St Barths, no matter how important that experience is. Each approach is a new one and must be flown with extreme alertness.

As explained in my previous post, the winds flowing from the sea into the bay create strong downdrafts. There is a venturi effect when the winds reach the airport (which lies between high hills), the resulting effect is that the winds accelerate even more. When hitting the hill, the winds are lifted along its profile, and "fall down" on the other side (Public area). At that stage the winds have been changed into powerful "rotors" (or rolling winds) which literally "pull the aircraft downward" (a little bit like a big wave crashing in the sea).

That specify part of the approach is extremely difficult, as the pilot cannot anticipate how strong the downdraft will be (winds are invisible and the windsock is not providing sufficient information about rotors). If you've been standing in that area to take pictures, I'm sure you've heard the engines of the aircraft spool up and down just before the hill. By anticipation of the downdrafts, pilots increase the engine power to make sure there's enough energy (but not too much) to go through the draft and clear the top of the hill.

What might have happened in the Winair flight is that a stronger than usual (unexpected?) downdraft brought the aircraft at a lower altitude precisely overhead the hill.

The point is: no matter where the road is/was, no matter where the cars are/were, no matter where people making pictures are/were, the only rule to keep in mind is:

DO NOT STAND IN THE -EXPECTED- AIRCRAFT PATH. EVER.

You never know when that turbulent downdraft is going to hit the aircraft and bring it down to the ground.

Edited to say: when I drive toward the roundabout, I always look if there is any aircraft on approach. When possible, I (literally) STOP on the road (if safe) until the aircraft has cleared the hill. We should all do that.

Good point Islander. Last time when we were there, I was driving coming from P'tit Morne and going around the round about towards St. Jean. Just as I in the center, a plane was coming in (which I didn't notice since I was watching the cars) and I swear it came really, really close to the top of our suv. I was totally freaked!

Good to hear he is okay.

 

[ChasBidd]

Here is the truth of the story... It was our friend Ed Gudenas, who created the photo book St Barth XL, who was standing on the road, NOT on a car, as he doesn't have one, he had pedaled his bike up to the hill above the airport where people stand to take photos... on the harbor side of the road below the wind sock, on the road, not on the hill... yes it was Winair, and people on the plane felt it "hit" something.. the pilot told the tower as soon as he landed, who called the ambulance, who came right away..

Ed was hit at around 4:30pm, the ambulance came and took him to the hospital, but by 7pm he was back at Le Select having a glass of rosé.... he has stitches in his forehead and eyebrow as he fell face first, but did not break any teeth.. his camera was ruined in process but it was insured..

that he is alive is a miracle!

View attachment 22392

View attachment 22393

but this should really be a warning to all those folks who stand up there trying to take photos of planes landing.. !

How may I get a copy of the photo? I wish to include it within my copy of Eddie's St. Barth XL
Chasbidd@gmail.com

 

[JEK]

 

[kent1994]

Congratulations Eddy!

 

[amyb]

My first thought when this appeared was Oh, no! Not again!

This is a marvelous book of photos that Eddy has assembled. For all lovers of the island, a great keepsake.

 

[JEK]

I agree. Have one in my "island nook".