July 11th, 2024

Plane Barely Recovering from Spin in Mountains

Hikers in Colorado filmed a plane near Devil's Thumb recovering from a spin at 12,200 feet. The pilot regained control just above ground, impressing viewers and sparking discussions on flying in mountainous areas.

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Plane Barely Recovering from Spin in Mountains

Hikers in Colorado's Devil's Thumb area captured a video on July 4 showing a plane, possibly a Cessna 152, barely recovering from an incipient spin near the top of the Continental Divide. The pilot managed to regain control within feet of the ground, avoiding a potential crash. The incident occurred at 12,200 feet, and the warm weather at that altitude was evident from the hiker's clothing. No further details about the event are available. The video, credited to Jason Dunn via Facebook, showcases the intense moment of the aircraft's recovery. Comments from viewers highlighted the challenging nature of flying in mountainous terrain and the importance of proper training and decision-making to navigate such environments safely. The pilot's skill in averting a disaster was acknowledged, with comparisons drawn to similar incidents in aviation history. The video sparked discussions among aviation enthusiasts about the risks and techniques associated with flying in high-altitude and mountainous regions.

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By @mathsmath - 9 months
Lots of comments here about a 172 at these altitudes. Our field is at 7,500’ and has the continental divide with peaks over 14,000’ on one end of the runway.

A 172 can fly up here, but you have to be smart and very picky about the days you fly. We don’t fly with full fuel and take the back seats out in the summer.

If there’s enough wind over the passes, or density altitude is high, we stay in the valley. Mountain flying is an entirely different beast.

By @throwup238 - 9 months
Link to the Facebook video (it didn't show up on TFA for me): https://www.facebook.com/1460864974/videos/pcb.1023090920054...

Literally feet away from death. That pilot is incredibly lucky.

By @TheLoafOfBread - 9 months
If somebody wants to see the video and comment from another pilot why it did happen, go here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcM7O9JYXKU
By @chasil - 9 months
Interesting that it did not show up on the AV Herald.

Thursday Jul 4th 2024:

Incident United B739 near Chicago on Jul 3rd 2024, cabin pressure problems

Incident France B789 over Atlantic on Jul 3rd 2024, burning odour on board

https://avherald.com

By @sv123 - 9 months
That seat definitely had to be replaced.