Here’s an “Adventure of WVO”...that hurts. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

WVOtoGO · #1 05-07-2007, 10:21 PM

What a Monday...

After getting the kids off to school, we had to take the Mustang over near Dallas for a radio/NAT mod.
DJ was to fly the Mustang, while I flew over in the PA-31 to bring her home. No problem.
Due to the policies of our destination airport, we could in-route into the TCA and airport approach as a "flight of two", but couldn’t land as such. Again - No problem, DJ goes in first (it’s a fuel thing).

She gets to the ramp, canopy open, shuts down and gets the post flight check-list done about the time I’m taxiing up. She goes to step out of the plane and all goes to hell in a hurry.
Somehow (keep in mind she’s a little lady in a big bird) when she goes to make the big step to the wing, she somehow gets her right foot shoelace hung up on either the carb air or ram door control lever (we may never know). Twists the heck out of her right knee. Falls face first onto the wing, and fractures her left ulna just above the wrist. Bruises her left shoulder and smacks her face so hard her glasses broke into three pieces - one of which cut a good size gash into her forehead just into the hairline above her left eye.

Screw my shut-down checks! I kill them both while still moving. Slam on the brakes. Set to park, jump out and run over to the scene. She’s laying on the wing all balled up holding her arm, kicking at the air with her only good leg, and screaming things in her Brit accent that I haven’t heard before. Blood, now about to run off and down the flap. And, what now has to be at least 20 people trying to help (it‘s not that big of an area).

We get her off the wing and the blood (wow - heads bleed a lot) is now covering her hair, face, shirt, shorts and ‘chute straps. What a sight. (And not a camera to be found.) It looked like a scene from a WWII movie where the ground crew is carting off a wounded pilot after a bad mission.

The FBO gives us a ride to the ER. Some friends picked us up. And now: A cast on the left arm. Left arm in a tight-to-body sling. Right knee in a ridged brace. Nine sutures in her head. Right ankle, right knee and left shoulder to be on and off ice all night....we‘re calling it a day. The Hydrocodone seems to be helping things, but the tears keep flowing. I’m not sure if it’s pain, being grounded or the embarrassment of it all. And she ain’t telling.

And now - finally - She sleeps.

I sure hope everyones Monday went better than ours.

See what you have to look forward to Mistress??
One of the last things she said to the ER docs was: “Aren’t aero-planes just grand ?!”

R Leo · #2 05-07-2007, 10:24 PM

Damn. And I thought my last week was bad....
Look at the bright side: she'll heal and there's a great story.

Take care!

Hatterasguy · #3 05-07-2007, 10:31 PM

Wow that sucks!

Sounds like she is ok, probably more pride hurt then anything in the end.

300SD81 · #4 05-07-2007, 10:40 PM

That sucks.. And I thought my monday was bad...

Larry Delor · #5 05-07-2007, 10:50 PM

Wow! Best wishes for a speedy healing!
I'm thinking she is going to take a second look at Velcro shoes, next time she is out shoe shopping.

WVOtoGO · #6 05-07-2007, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Delor

Wow! Best wishes for a speedy healing!
I'm thinking she is going to take a second look at Velcro shoes, next time she is out shoe shopping.

Thanks all - I'll pass it on.

Larry -
Normally. That’s the case. She wears her Nomex flight suit and booties. (Much like you see the race car drivers wear.) In her EA300L, that’s always the case.
But this was just a 50 mile jump. No big deal. And nothing to snag anything on down near the pedals there anyway.
And oddly enough, the loop on her laces were pretty small (except the one, after it let loose). We don’t think it was so much the laces, as the one in a zillion chance of getting them where she did on exit.

You’re right though - She wont do it again. The Nomex boots are Velcro.

Medmech · #7 05-07-2007, 11:42 PM

Hoping for a SPEEDY recovery WVO, I guess its best to fall off or out of the plane in lieu of falling IN the plane.

mgburg · #8 05-07-2007, 11:44 PM

You know what the really bad part is?
You're hurting for her, on the inside, and you can't/shouldn't even tell her...

Good luck with the healing...just tend after her like there's no tomorrow...otherwise, there won't be...

And remember, double-up on the flowers this Sunday.

Kuan · #9 05-07-2007, 11:54 PM

Ouch man! Glad she's OK. Here's to a speedy recovery!

PS Burg you're pretty sensitive for a hardass! You sure you're not a pansy liberal??

Dee8go · #10 05-08-2007, 10:28 AM

Sorry to hear that, WVO. I hope DJ will be feeling much better soon.

R Leo · #11 05-08-2007, 10:50 AM

Not many women have the opportunity to break an arm falling from a Mustang that they just flew...I'm impressed.

Medmech · #12 05-08-2007, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R Leo

Not many women have the opportunity to break an arm falling from a Mustang that they just flew...I'm impressed.

Figure the odds on that one.

jlomon · #13 05-08-2007, 02:53 PM

First let me say that I'm very happy to hear that your wife is ok. But I also have to express how incredibly, indescribably jealous I am that you've got a Mustang. I don't think there has been a piston engine made that sounds better than a R/R Merlin. I could listen to that droning all day long. The Canadian Warplane Heritage in Hamilton has one of two Avro Lancasters in flying condition, and a few times a year it will fly over my house under 5000 feet. Its a beautiful sound.