The WTF plane crash of the year

[malaise]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/democraticrepublicofcongo/8078612/Aircraft-crashes-after-crocodile-on-board-escapes-and-sparks-panic.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=ukworldnews
<snip>

It has now emerged that the crash was caused by the concealed reptile escaping and causing a stampede in the cabin, throwing the aircraft off-balance.

According to the inquiry report and the testimony of the only survivor, the crash happened because of a panic sparked by the escape of a crocodile hidden in a sports bag.

One of the passengers had hidden the animal, which he planned to sell, in a big sports bag, from which the reptile escaped as the plane began its descent into Bandundu.

A report of the incident said: "The terrified air hostess hurried towards the cockpit, followed by the passengers."

The plane was then sent off-balance "despite the desperate efforts of the pilot", said the report.

[liberal N proud]

1. Get these fucking snakes off my fucking plane

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. Racist!

Oh, sorry. Wrong thread.

[louis-t]

2. Hmmm, pilots weigh in on this.

I wouldn't think people moving about in the craft could cause that much of an imbalance. On a boat, yes, but in an aircraft?

[cloudbase]

6. It's a big deal, and the smaller the plane,

the more sensitive it is to this. Weight has to be distributed to keep the center of gravity within generally narrow and very specific limits. If the c.g. is moved outside of those limits, it's likely that the elevator controls could become ineffective resulting in an inability to regain a level flight attitude from a nose-up or nose-down attitude, either of which can ruin your day.

[Canuckistanian]

7. To me, it looks possible

That's not going to be a stable plane when the payload suddenly shifts.

And it seems they were on final approach - flaps are down (reducing speed, thus manoeuvrability) and the pilot is concentrating more on the runway than the possibility of correcting aircraft attitude.

That's another reason why seatbelts are recommended, especially for small planes like this.

[northernlights]

11. absolutely. it doesn't take a pilot to weigh in

only somebody who has flown in small aircraft, aka puddle-jumpers. I flew in one so small that seats were assigned by weight and you stayed in them. Baggage compartment too.

[Hepburn]

13. Been there and done that...

...small planes do have to have the weight balanced.

My gentleman friend flies a twin engine plane that seats 6 and, yes, baggage and bodies have to be placed with a concern for weight.

[pinboy3niner]

14. Overloading/improper distribution of baggage is a common crash cause:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGHP_enUS368US369&q=ntsb+and+weight+and+baggage+accidents

[WillyT]

3. One Word... Sort Of...

Amtrak

:wow:

[wildbilln864]

4. Gators on a plane! nt

[annabanana]

5. recc'd for the sheer absurdity of the whole thing. . . n/t

[marmar]

8. WTF?

Reality weirder than anything the Weekly World News could come up with.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. sad when the utter stupidity of one person causes the death of so many innocent bystanders..

[malaise]

10. Isn't that the truth

Stupid moron

[Hepburn]

12. OH...MY...GAWD!!!

This is for real!!!!! :wow:

[malaise]

15. Hard to believe isn't it

What a way to go - croc or crash!

[TheMightyFavog]

16. This came to mind...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXYfnWRp1Q0

[malaise]

19. LOL

:rofl:

[NV Whino]

17. The croc survived the crash...

only to be dispatched with a machete. Sigh.

[malaise]

20. I couldn't write this script

Unbelievable

[felix_numinous]

21. Of course the crocodile survived.

But this wouldn't happen here because we & our bags are sniffed, scanned and radiologically exposed in entirety before flying...