Pilot Error: The Anatomy of a Plane Crash

by Phaedra Hise

Examines and re-creates the fateful events of an expert pilot’s crash off Cape Cod Reveals the hidden dangers of flight that challenge even the most skilled pilots Delivers a gripping narrative that puts the reader in the cockpit of a plane that faces imminent disaster On Friday, October 9, 1998, Ron Sinzheimer left his downtown Albany law office and drove to the airport. Once there, he loaded a weekend bag, a few household items, and the family dog into the back of his single-engine Grumman Traveler airplane. He took off to join his wife for a weekend at the family vacation home on Cape Cod. The weather report had not been promising, but Sinzheimer, an experienced pilot, had flown this route many times and felt confident that he could make the two-hour flight to Provincetown despite the ominous forecast. He never arrived. In Pilot Error, Phaedra Hise delivers a brilliant and lucid account of this true story. She follows the Coast Guard’s daring search-and-rescue attempt, draws insight from her own experience as a pilot, analyzes what was uncovered by the National Transportation Safety Board investigation, interviews other pilots who are all too familiar with the hazardous flying conditions off Cape Cod, and talks with friends and family members of the victim. This book reveals how even a well-trained pilot can easily slip into trouble, with one seemingly insignificant mistake leading to another and setting off a deadly chain of events.

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2002

Reviews

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was one of the owners of 7100L before the events of this book took place. This book compares the search and rescue of this crash to the search and rescue of the John Kennedy crash. These two crashes had a lot in common.

7100L was also involved in another incident prior to my ownership. It landed with a few hundred feet of power line wire attached to the landing gear according to NTSB records.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe it took me this long read this book! It has been on my shelf for a while. As a pilot and Coast Guard Aux air crew member myself, I was engaged and learning throughout every page. The story is extremely well-written while not sparing the technical details. The environment surrounding the crash is painted very clearly, the circumstances of the crash and subsequent investigation are explained in detail. Highly recommend this book for anyone interested in aviation.