Another unresponsive aircraft over the Atlantic..

[Hoss]

...and nearing Cuban airspace.  Norad deploys two F-15s to investigate.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/f-15s-dispatched-unresponsive-aircraft-over-atlantic-n196776

[Conan71]

No longer flying over the Atlantic.

[Hoss]

No longer flying over the Atlantic.

Just short of Jamaica.

What aggravates me most about the current state of news?  For over an hour the doodle heads on the 24 hour news channels reported that 'this seemed to be too high of altitude for this plane'.  Finally, one of the experts they called took them to task on this, as 25,000 feet is well within the flight envelope of the TBM 700.  As new as this plane was (2014 manufacture date) it likely had the higher service ceiling of about 40,000 feet.

I mean come on.  They had the name and model of the aircraft.  A simple internet search would have provided the correct information in about 180 seconds.  That's sheer laziness.  Guess I'm not surprised however...sensationalistic headlines over facts.  That's been the MOS of the regular media for over 15 years now.  "If it bleeds it leads".

[Conan71]

Just short of Jamaica.

What aggravates me most about the current state of news?  For over an hour the doodle heads on the 24 hour news channels reported that 'this seemed to be too high of altitude for this plane'.  Finally, one of the experts they called took them to task on this, as 25,000 feet is well within the flight envelope of the TBM 700.  As new as this plane was (2014 manufacture date) it likely had the higher service ceiling of about 40,000 feet.

I mean come on.  They had the name and model of the aircraft.  A simple internet search would have provided the correct information in about 180 seconds.  That's sheer laziness.  Guess I'm not surprised however...sensationalistic headlines over facts.  That's been the MOS of the regular media for over 15 years now.  "If it bleeds it leads".

Essentially a brand new plane and it loses cabin pressure?  Since it wasn't explosive decompression, makes you wonder if they missed something on the checklist on pressurizing the cabin, or a seal failed or was pinched and it lost pressure gradually.  Don't they have a gauge and warning system for the cabin pressure system?

[Red Arrow]

Essentially a brand new plane and it loses cabin pressure?  Since it wasn't explosive decompression, makes you wonder if they missed something on the checklist on pressurizing the cabin, or a seal failed or was pinched and it lost pressure gradually.  Don't they have a gauge and warning system for the cabin pressure system?

I am sure there is a gauge of some sort.  The P-Baron I rode a lot of right seat on had the gauge right on the cabin pressure controller.  I don't know what other warnings a TBM might have.

[Hoss]

Essentially a brand new plane and it loses cabin pressure?  Since it wasn't explosive decompression, makes you wonder if they missed something on the checklist on pressurizing the cabin, or a seal failed or was pinched and it lost pressure gradually.  Don't they have a gauge and warning system for the cabin pressure system?

From what I heard, some of the planes dispatched said they saw the pilot slumped over, but could see his chest moving up and down like he was still breathing.  FAA said this pilot stopped responding to ATC about 10am ET.  It was about 1pm ET when I first heard of this happening.  Right after they lost contact, they said it descended from fl280 to fl250 and there it stayed until it ditched.  I'm curious why the 3000 foot descent right after LOC.

[Conan71]

This sheds some light on the issue, sounds like he may have known there was a pressurization problem after all, just didn't get down into some O2 soon enough.

The pilot radioed air traffic control while at 28,000 feet saying he had some type of problem and wanted permission to get down to 18,000 feet.

"We need to descend," the pilot told controllers, according to audio collected by LiveATC.net. "We have an indication that is not correct on the plane."

The controller gave permission to fly at 25,000 feet — but the pilot said that wasn't enough. "We need to get lower," the pilot said.

Subsequently, the controller gave permission for the plane to descend to 20,000 feet but the pilot didn't respond, U.S. officials told NBC News. The aircraft didn't answer further calls.

Fighter jets were dispatched and chased the plane but broke off the trail after it entered Cuban airspace. The F-15s then "circled around" with plans to resume the chase as the small plane exited Cuba's territorial waters, officials said.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/unresponsive-aircraft-plane-crashes-after-f-15-chase-over-atlantic-n196776

[Gaspar]

This sheds some light on the issue, sounds like he may have known there was a pressurization problem after all, just didn't get down into some O2 soon enough.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/unresponsive-aircraft-plane-crashes-after-f-15-chase-over-atlantic-n196776

Sounds like there wasn't enough time anyway.

[Hoss]

This sheds some light on the issue, sounds like he may have known there was a pressurization problem after all, just didn't get down into some O2 soon enough.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/unresponsive-aircraft-plane-crashes-after-f-15-chase-over-atlantic-n196776

If the pilot feels the need to descend if he suspects depressurization in the cabin, it's the PIC's responsibility to get to a safe altitude, no matter what ATC says.  ATC can clear airspace around him if heeded.  He likely should have declared an emergency, but no telling now what was happening in the cabin.  Hopefully this aircraft had a cockpit voice recorder, because I don't think in this case an FDR would be of much help.  And likely this aircraft didn't have one, unless the newness of it served as a reason for having one.  This specific aircraft from what I understand retails for about $3.5 million.

[Red Arrow]

This sheds some light on the issue, sounds like he may have known there was a pressurization problem after all, just didn't get down into some O2 soon enough.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/unresponsive-aircraft-plane-crashes-after-f-15-chase-over-atlantic-n196776

There should have been emergency O2 onboard.  If the pilot had enough time to request a lower altitude, he should have had enough time to put on the emergency O2. Fly first, talk second.

[Hoss]

Now we know the reason why it flew so long...only two people on board and there's some question now as to whether this was actually the TBM 900 (which is really the same plane, just with longer range and newer, which jibes with the N number registration details except that the registration indicated it as a 700).

This Wiki entry is about spot on with the range it exhibited today.

TBM 900
Marketing name for the TBM700 N with improved version with aerodynamic inlet and performance optimization, priced at US$3.711M.[12] Max cruise speed is increased to 330 kts at 64 gph. A range of 1,730 nm (with 45-minute standard IFR reserves) using long-range cruise speed is capable at 250 kts while burning 30 gph or 1,585 nm at 290 kts while burning 35 gph.[3] Improvements to the prop have been made as well. A five-bladed carbon fiber Hartzell prop adds performance to the airplane

So sad.  Thoughts to all involved.  Sure makes me remember the Payne Stewart Learjet that essentially did the same thing.

[Conan71]

Now we know the reason why it flew so long...only two people on board and there's some question now as to whether this was actually the TBM 900 (which is really the same plane, just with longer range and newer, which jibes with the N number registration details except that the registration indicated it as a 700).

This Wiki entry is about spot on with the range it exhibited today.

TBM 900
Marketing name for the TBM700 N with improved version with aerodynamic inlet and performance optimization, priced at US$3.711M.[12] Max cruise speed is increased to 330 kts at 64 gph. A range of 1,730 nm (with 45-minute standard IFR reserves) using long-range cruise speed is capable at 250 kts while burning 30 gph or 1,585 nm at 290 kts while burning 35 gph.[3] Improvements to the prop have been made as well. A five-bladed carbon fiber Hartzell prop adds performance to the airplane

So sad.  Thoughts to all involved.  Sure makes me remember the Payne Stewart Learjet that essentially did the same thing.

Glazer was apparently an enthusiastic TBM owner.  He was quoted as saying he asked his wife if she wanted a new vacation house down south or a new Socata, she said a new Socata.  Sad irony.  I'm with you, declare emergency and get that sucker down.  FL 18 wouldn't have done much for O2 conservation, he must not have known how deep of smile they were in.