July 2024. Blues Vol 40 No.7

BY MICHAEL BARRON

BY MICHAEL BARRON “..he fell out!” I know we’ve run this ‘war story’ a couple of times in the past. But with the return of APSCON to Houston, it seemed only natural to expose a whole new set of readers to the Cessna Pilot who ‘fell out.’ “He fell out” The day started out as one of those beautiful fall mornings on Galveston Island where the blue sky and water seemed to meet and look the same. The water was crystal clear and smooth as glass. Something you rarely see on the Island and when it does, you can’t wait to get in the air and experience it from a couple hundred feet. But paperwork and the task of assigning flights for the week had me desk bound for at least the better part of that beautiful morning. That is until the Sheriff from a neighboring county called with a rather strange question. “Hey sarge, this is the Sheriff over at Jefferson County. Being 154 The Blues - July ‘24 a pilot and all, can you tell me how hard it is to fall out of an airplane?” You mean like parked on a ramp? “No like in the air” What kind of airplane? “I think it’s a Cessna One-Fifty something” A Cessna 152? “Yeah, that’s it” Nope. Not likely, why? “Well, I got a young kid/pilot over here at the airport and he claims he and this gentlemen were up doing lessons or something and they were doing some steep turns and the door popped opened and the man fell out.” Are you serious or you pranking me Sheriff? “Naw, I’m serious that’s what he’s saying. I’m not partial to believing his story, sounds kinda fishy to me. Would you mind flying over here and talking to him? I sure would appreciate it. We’ll buy ya’ll some gas for the trip.” Let me get one of my guys and we’ll head that way. I can’t wait to meet this young man. Don’t let him talk to anyone until we get there. I grabbed my chief pilot and said, “come on, we’re going to see a man about a flying fish.” It was a short flight over to Beaumont Municipal and we were cleared for a straight in for the Runway 13. As we taxied onto the ramp, there was a bright red Cessna 152 parked right out front with the left door partially open. I can’t wait to hear this story. Morning Sheriff, beautiful day isn’t it. “Damn sure is, pity someone had to die on a day like this.” Wait, what? You didn’t mention anyone dying. “Huh, must have slipped my mind. He’s up in the conference room just up the stairs.” WTF, I thought. What the hell are we getting into here. I opened the door and here was this 20 something young man that was obviously scared shitless. Hello, my name is Sgt. Barron, I understand you had some kind of accident, and someone fell out

of your airplane? Tell me exactly what happened. “Well, I was at work and this student of mine called and said he wanted to come take a lesson. I scheduled him for a onehour flight, and he showed up this morning as he always does. We pre-flighted the plane, did our pre-checks, did a run-up, got clearance from the tower and then took off. And then what? “He said he wanted to do some steep turns, so we climbed to 3500’ over near the lake, that’s pretty much our usual training area and ….” Wait. Was he flying? “Yes” And he was in the left seat? “Yes” Ok, go on. “So, he started making a steep left-hand turn, about 45 degrees and then he rolled the plane to almost 60 degrees and that’s when the door popped open.” And then what happened? “He just rolled out” What do you mean, he just rolled out? Like the door opened and he fell out? “Yes” Son, are you aware that lying to a police officer is a crime? “..but that’s what happened, I swear.” Son, come with me. I led the young man downstairs with the Sheriff and his men in tow, down to the ramp and outside to the parked Cessna. The sheriff is like “Sarge what are we doing?” You’ll see. Ok young man, get in the left seat where your student was. And by the way, did he have his seat belt and harnesses fastened? “I don’t remember” Uh huh. Well, we’re going to assume no. So, sit inside. Which he did. Ok, put your hands on the yoke. Turn the yoke all the way to the left. Which he did. Now I’m going to hold this door open while you roll out. OK? “Uhhhhhh OK” OK roll out. The boy leaned The Blues - July ‘24 155