MW> Snip - snip -  But investigators say that didn't matter
MW> JS>  because both tanks were empty.
MW> JH> Typical work by the NTSB: blame it on the pilot.  Singles without
MW> JH> power for whatever reason do not "plunge".....they glide.  Denver was
MW> JH> an experienced pilot.  Even a raw one could do better than that.  I
MW> JH> must have been stupid for thinking the NTSB might look beyond the
MW> JH> superficial in the search for the truth.
MW>Sorry Jay, but "experienced" pilots don't go flying with
MW>empty tanks. One of the first fundamentals pilots are taught
MW>is to check and recheck the fuel, and don't just rely on the
MW>guages - dip the tanks!
MW>IMHO, it probably "plunged" (or stalled) while he was Heads
MW>down trying to sort out the fuel problem in an unfamiliar
MW>aircraft at a low altitude.
    I tend to agree with you, Murray; but didn't want to
comment prior to this, as I have no knowledge of the flight
characteristics of the experimental light aircraft, and
precious little knowledge of the Denver accident, due to
the sketchy info provided by the news media so far.
    So, an unqualified comment or two: the location of
the propeller would be a factor. In front, the power on
versus the power off stall speeds would be significant;
in this case, Denver may well have been close to the stall
speed while heads down. In a stall, neophyte pilots just
might pull back on the stick, which only results in the nose
falling faster.
    Side note - many years ago, a friend of mine was flying
a light aircraft with his young daughter as a passenger. The
kid switched tanks, and sometime later, the engine quit, due
to fuel starvation. At this relatively low altitude, he
didn't have time to sort it all out, and opted to land in
a controlled crash. He ended up upside down in an apple tree.
Since I wasn't there, I can't criticize his choice of a
landing site. 
    At the time of that incident, I had been out of flight
school for quite a few years, and just couldn't recall
what they had taught us regarding "Engine Quits" emergency
procedures, but it seems logical to me that if an Engine
Quits, there is either a known, and expected, reason for it,
or it is unexpected. If it is unexpected, seems to me the
logical first step is to switch tanks whether you think you
need to or not. Knowing exactly where the switch is located,
and being able to make the switch within a second or three
could save your life.
    Comments, anyone?
..
---
 * SLMR 2.1a * - The X-Files - 30 dumb looks per episode, guaranteed.
--- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 
---------------