Latest news with #Cessna182
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Iowa roads see decrease in fatal crashes at the start of ‘100 deadliest days of summer'
An Iowa State Patrol squad car parked at the State Capitol. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Memorial Day 2025 kicked off what the Iowa State Patrol calls the '100 deadliest days of summer,' a period of time marked by an increase in teen driver crashes and fatalities. This time of year, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, is when many younger drivers are hitting the roads for the first time and others may be indulging in the holiday season. Law enforcement agencies, including the Iowa State Patrol, increased their presence on the roadways over the holiday weekend and noticed a continued pattern of decreasing fatal crashes over the past three years. 'Our focus is to make the roadways a safe and enjoyable experience,' said Sgt. Alex Dinkla, public information officer for Iowa State Patrol. 'This is one of those periods where that extra enforcement, we know, did pay off.' The state patrol arrested 21 individuals for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and covered over 47 crashes across the state. The Iowa Department of Transportation reported two fatal accidents in the days leading up to Memorial Day. Buckle that seatbelt, put the phone down and always remember, if you're gonna go out and have some alcohol, to get that sober driver. – Sgt. Alex Dinkla, public information officer for Iowa State Patrol Many of the crashes occurred at intersections around the state. Dinkla noted that drivers often forget the blind spot on both sides of their car, between their windshield and door window. These blind spots can obscure entire vehicles from the driver's view. Dinkla recommends drivers check two or three times before crossing an intersection to ensure they spot any threats. In 2023, the DOT reported four fatal crashes in the days before the holiday, one of which was attributed to alcohol. In 2024, there were three fatal crashes. This year, the number dropped to two. Dinkla said that while the patrol doesn't 'want to call that a success because that's still two fatalities,' it's evident the extra presence and effort to educate the public is making a difference. Going forward, Dinkla said, the ISP plans to utilize their Air Wing Unit, a unit of five pilots and aircrafts primarily used for traffic enforcement, more during other holidays and times of peak travel. Founded in 1956, the unit currently consists of three Cessna 182 aircraft, one Cessna 206 and one SR-22 CIRUSS. Two of the aircraft have thermal imaging equipment to aid in missing-person cases, fugitive location and specialized surveillance. 'None of us know when we may or may not be involved in a fatal crash,' he said. 'Buckle that seatbelt, put the phone down and always remember, if you're gonna go out and have some alcohol, to get that sober driver.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Teen pilot on historic flight against cancer makes Bay Area stop
The Brief 19-year-old Ethan Guo is flying solo to all seven continents to raise $1 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He made a stop in Palo Alto this week, nearing the final stretch of his historic journey. PALO ALTO, Calif. - A 19-year-old pilot on a mission to become the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents made a stop in Palo Alto Sunday. But for Ethan Guo, the journey is about far more than setting records - it's a personal flight against cancer. With just 20 countries and two continents left, Guo is nearing the final stretch of a journey that's taken him across five continents, through extreme weather, mechanical failures, and long stretches of solitude. His goal is to raise $1 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in honor of his cousin, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkins' lymphoma, just as Guo was beginning his global trip. "It was extremely unexpected because he was young, 17, 18 at that time," Guo said. "And it was stage 4 blood cancer, which is not very good unfortunately, and I was like, 'what can I do to help?'" Guo says his love for flying started early. At 13, he discovered a passion for aviation. By 17, he had earned his private pilot's license, and was homeschooled to accommodate flight training and preparation. Now, at just 19, he's about a month away from making history. Guo is piloting a 50-year-old, specially modified Cessna 182, often flying for hours without food or water. The idea to dedicate his flight to cancer research came shortly after his cousin's diagnosis. He's amassed over a million Instagram followers and support from sponsors. Along the way, he's visited children's hospitals, hoping to inspire young patients to keep dreaming. Guo's journey hasn't come without danger. He's battled extreme weather, mechanical failures, even detainment in Myanmar. And he's faced the loneliness that comes with flying solo for about a year. "To be honest, many times I am scared," he said. "It's not a guarantee that I'll be able to complete this journey and on many fronts there are risks... but I think if you have something that you believe in and you find something that you believe is worth fighting for, I think even with the risk you should take it on." There's been plenty of beauty, joy and unexpected friendships along the way too. Today, Ethan leads a 10-person support team. "One thing I've been able to confirm is I like taking on hard tasks," he said. "Given the opportunity at times, we give up on this journey or many obstacles that I face that I could have easily given up, I think it's only inspired me to work harder." His advice to others? "What people often don't realize - if you take a massive goal and you break it down to digestible pieces it's actually very much attainable," Guo said. "So what I say to people is aim as big as you can, break it down to digestible steps and work towards it step by step." From the Bay Area, Guo will continue south to Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas, and then head to South America before ending his historic flight in Antarctica. He's also happy to report that his cousin is now in remission. As for what's next? Guo is considering college, a return to the startup world, or possibly launching his own company. But first, he says, he's hoping to squeeze in a trip to In-N-Out before leaving California.
New York Post
15-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Pilot who crashed into sea snaps smiling selfies and tells ‘crappy dad jokes' while waiting to be rescued
A pilot recalled the harrowing moment his plane engine 'just went silent' over the ocean, sending him and a passenger crashing into the rough seas below — where he snapped smiling selfies and told 'crappy dad jokes' while waiting hours to be rescued. Canadian pilot Michael McDonald and his marine biologist passenger were about three hours into a daily flight over the open waters of Mexico's Gulf of California on April 18 when something suddenly went wrong. The Cessna 182's engine 'just went silent' at about 1,500 feet over the ocean — causing the four-seater to drop at about 500 feet per minute while at least seven miles from land, he said. Advertisement 'Three minutes is all we had left to play with,' he told CBC News of the time he estimated he had before crashing. 3 A Canadian pilot and his passenger survived a small plane off Mexico filming footage of their ordeal as they awaited rescue on April 18. Michael MacDonald via Storyful 3 The pilot and marine biologist had been flying over the Gulf of California daily for over a month. Michael MacDonald / Facebook Advertisement After failing to troubleshoot the issue, the pilot passed a pillow to his passenger, who was not otherwise identified, to cover her face, telling her to brace for impact. The small plane finally smashed into the water while going around 70 mph, McDonald said — likening it to getting punched in the face. 'We went head first and flipped over, immediately blew out the windshield, and water came rushing in,' the veteran commercial pilot said. 'It was a bit of a punch to the face. It was kind of a surreal feeling. It was so sudden,' he added. Advertisement Amazingly, neither McDonald nor his passenger were seriously injured, and both managed to free themselves from their harnesses and activate their inflatable life vests. 3 McDonald has been flying planes since 2012. Michael MacDonald via Storyful McDonald's iPhone also survived in its protective case — and he almost immediately got a call from his company's office after they got an alert that something was wrong. The pilot then used his phone to snap selfies and film videos as he and his passenger waited at least two hours before they were finally found and pulled to safety. Advertisement 'Waiting to get rescued,' he says in one selfie video as he floats in a yellow life vest. 'Might be a while.' MacDonald told CTV he tried to lighten the mood by talking and telling 'crappy dad jokes,' which he claims his passenger — who looked terrified in most of the snaps — enjoyed. 'I felt like I had a bit of an out-of-body experience, watching someone else do it. So, I was OK,' he says. McDonald since said the marine biologist is like his 'little sister now' since going through the ordeal together.
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Canadian pilot survives emergency landing at sea
A Canadian pilot has recounted his harrowing experience surviving an emergency landing at sea after the engine of his Cessna 182 stopped midair over the Gulf of California. Mike MacDonald was surveying the sea for wildlife alongside a marine biologist on April 18 when the unexpected happened. "When the engine stopped, it suddenly became very quiet in the airplane. And it's that kind of gut-wrenching feeling like, oh-oh, this could be problems," said Mr MacDonald. With only a few minutes to react, Mr MacDonald executed a crash landing, saying the moment of the collision "felt like a sea monster reached up and grabbed us and pulled us into the water." The plane flipped upon crashing, breaking the windshield, with debris leaving cuts and scratches on his leg. Yet, Mr MacDonald remained focused, ensuring his companion escaped safely. "The airplane just disappeared into the waves. It was gone," he recalled, likening the sinking of the small aircraft to the Titanic's final moments. Despite the turmoil after hitting water, the pilot maintained his composure, guiding his passenger through the terrifying situation and trying to keep her calm. After some hours floating in the water, they were rescued by a nearby vessel which they managed to contact using a marine radio that floated with the crash debris. The Mexican Navy later transported them back to land. Mr MacDonald, now safe at home in Burnaby, Canada, underscored the importance of listening to airline safety instructions when flying and advised pilots to take extra emergency training. "When you get onto a major airline and they show you where the exits are and pay attention to that. There might be one right behind you that you're not paying attention to, that could save your life."
CBC
10-05-2025
- CBC
'The engine just went silent': Then, this B.C. pilot had 3 minutes to react
For more than a month, Canadian pilot Michael MacDonald had taken a marine biologist on daily flights over Mexico's Gulf of California, surveying the sea for wildlife. Thirty-three of those flights went smoothly. About three hours into the 34th, things went south. MacDonald, who is now safe at home in Burnaby, B.C., is recounting the seconds, minutes and hours after he realized the engine in his small aircraft had quit, and how far he and his passenger were from land. The pair were soaring at about 457 metres above the ocean, just low enough so they could see all kinds of whales, orcas, dolphins and turtles, on April 18. Three hours into the four-hour flight, "the engine just went silent," MacDonald recalled. "I just immediately turned left 90 degrees, because that was the closest to the land," he told Gloria Macarenko, the host of CBC's On The Coast. WATCH | Michael MacDonald details the moment he realized his plane was crashing: B.C. pilot shares survival story after small plane crash in Mexican waters 4 days ago Duration 11:13 They were about 11 kilometres away from the shore, and falling about 150 metres per minute, MacDonald said. "Three minutes is all we had left to play with." He spent about 90 seconds trying to figure out what had gone wrong in the four-seater Cessna 182. When nothing worked, he knew they were going to hit the water. MacDonald, 47, has been flying since 2012, and the procedure around what to do in the event of a crash landing has been drilled into him. "We talk about it a lot, about the possibility of ditching," he said. "Every day we go over a briefing and remember how to do this procedure, that procedure and make sure that we know what we're doing." MacDonald, 47, passed a pillow to his passenger so she could cover her face to protect herself from debris. They tightened their harnesses and prepared for impact. MacDonald remembers trying to navigate the big swells in the ocean. "When I still thought I was a few feet off the water, it felt like something reached up and grabbed us and just pulled us into the water," he said. "We went head first and flipped over, immediately blew out the windshield, and water came rushing in." Having already opened his door, MacDonald unbuckled his harness and rolled out the side of the aircraft, swallowing sea water as he moved. "It was a bit of a punch to the face. It was kind of a surreal feeling. It was so sudden." He turned to see his passenger struggling to get out of the harness, and water was up to her chin. He reminded her to unbuckle, and as he swam toward her, she was able to free herself. Fortunately, they were wearing self-inflating vests. MacDonald pointed out how crucial it was that they wait until they were in the water and out of the plane to pull the cord. "You could be floating inside the airplane as it's sinking, and you can't swim down to the door to get out." MacDonald helped the passenger get her vest inflated with relative ease. But when he pulled the cord to inflate his own, nothing happened. In a moment of physical and emotional strain, where maintaining a steady breath is already a lot to ask, MacDonald had to blow his vest up himself. "I blew into the little red tube that filled it up. I've been playing bagpipes for years, so it all came into practice." Shortly after, he felt a vibration on his thigh. His phone, an iPhone 15 with an OtterBox case, was ringing underwater. He carefully pulled it out, dried it, and spoke to someone from his administrative office who had received an alert that something might be wrong. "I couldn't hear anything initially, so I just started talking into the phone." He gave his location: seven miles east of Punta and 10 miles southeast of Isla Cerralvo. "Then I went silent and I could hear, clear as a bell: 'I'm already talking to rescue.'" And then he immediately lost reception. The phone itself still worked, so he was able to take some photos and video of his harrowing experience while he and the passenger waited for more than two hours. While he was confident a rescue team would come, he said his marine biologist passenger wasn't so sure. He made it his mission to convince her they were going to be OK. Both MacDonald and the passenger were rescued without incident. Since then, MacDonald said he and the passenger have bonded over the shared experience. "She's my little sister now." The only time he's been on a plane since the ordeal was on the flight home to B.C. several days later. He said he paid a little closer attention to the safety demonstration from the flight attendants. "I thought, OK, I know where my exits are," he said.
