CubCrafters has temporarily suspended its familiarization program for aviation journalists after the fatal crash of one its loaner aircraft in Idaho last week. Television meteorologist and YouTuber Roland Steadham and passenger Dallin Laufenberg were killed when the Carbon Cub they were in hit a power line over a reservoir north of Boise. Steadham had been flying the plane for more than a month and had prepared a video for his popular channel just a few days before the accident. CubCrafters is taking part in the investigation and staff will not be answering media questions. The company did say that Steadham, like all participants in the program, underwent a screening process (valid flight review, 1,000 hours total time, 500 hours of tailwheel, recent proficiency in similar types) and was qualified to fly the plane.
“Out of respect for those involved, and in light of the seriousness of this event, CubCrafters has made the decision to temporarily suspend its Media Evaluation Program, effective immediately,” the company said. “CubCrafters believes it is appropriate to pause the program while we reflect on the event, continue to cooperate with the ongoing investigation, and evaluate the future of this program. Safety has always been, and will continue to be, our highest priority. We extend our deepest condolences to all those impacted by this tragic event.” Full media statement is copied below.
America is just too crowded to fly low. Between power lines and slack lines, you can’t trust a route.
Simply no reason to fly that low. Choosing to, you assume the risk just as in any other dangerous activity.
YouTube pushes another one six feet under.
I hope “CubCrashers” doesn’t take hold.
Okay, How about a non media evaluation program?
media evaluationmarketing program. Marketing is so important to our consumer-dependent economy!Hope it’s not another hold my beer accident. Pushing “it” to get the video that goes viral makes YouTubers stuff they wouldn’t normally do.
Low flying is inherently risky, but training, pre-flight planning, and adhering to a standard operating procedure can mitigate some of the risk. Cropdusters spend all day every day of their careers on the deck.
Valley flying below the ridges is particularly hazardous. Accidents involving this activity appear often in the accident databases. Their frequency seems to be increasing with the popularity of back-country flying and the widespread use of GoPro cameras. Most pilots new to this activity have no training in it and are ignorant of some of the hazards involved. Until you have hit them, you have no idea just how invisible wires can be while in flight.
To start with, a detailed preflight study of the route on Google Earth or a similar website should be completed. Keep in mind that these images are dated and it is quite possible that obstacles have been constructed since the images were made. Flying a recon pass above the ridges and off set from the drainage before flying the low route is important. You are assessing the river for sharp twists in the valley, wind direction, power lines, bridges, dwellings, boaters, rafters, and shore fisherman among myriad other considerations on the high level recon. Remember, almost everyone has a video camera in their pocket now. You might find it difficult to explain that you were more than 500 feet away from a person to an FAA inspector while they are looking at a video in which both your small registration numbers and your face are clearly visible.
Small airplane mounted video cameras can be quite useful during test flying, training, and I suppose creating entertainment content as long as a professional videographer and an experienced pilot are involved. They can also be serious distraction and serve as an incentive for less disciplined pilots to exercise poor judgement. I don’t know if the cameras were being used during this particular incident and don’t have enough information about it to be judgmental about the pilot or the accident. These are simply observations on some of the factors mentioned in the report.