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Rapper Jon James is killed when an airplane stunt for a music video goes wrong
(CNN)Jon James, a Canadian rapper, was killed during a music video shoot when a stunt atop an airplane wing went wrong. He was 34. During a music video shoot in Vernon, British Columbia, on Saturday, the rapper -- whose full name is Jon James McMurray -- was walking on the wing of a Cessna as it was in flight. He walked too far out on the wing and made the small aircraft go into a downward spiral, his management team said. "Jon held onto the wing until it was too late, and by the time he… (www.cnn.com) More...
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It goes without saying that it's best if everyone survives, but in this case at least the pilot was able to recover and survive.
Walking on a wing of a Cessna... UGH! Not something that I would recommend...
In a video that appears on the page from the story he is shown sky-diving from a Cessna. Given the statement from his producer that he “held on as long as he could”, I suspect he first walked out on the wing strut and then just hung onto the strut with his hands, trying to get as high up/far out as possible, not realizing the leverage of his weight and drag that far from the CG.
I think an experienced jump pilot would have rejected that idea, so maybe it wasn’t planned that way.
I think an experienced jump pilot would have rejected that idea, so maybe it wasn’t planned that way.
Since the plan was to wingwalk and then jump off using a parachute and since he practised for some time before the fatal accident, perhaps that video is from one of the practises when he intended to use the parachute?
Personally, I think the pilot is the stupid one?
Darwin!
Sounds like there wasn’t a extensive safety briefing of what could and couldn’t be done, or those instructions weren’t followed. There must be video so maybe we’ll see that someday.
I’m curious what type of Cessna would allow wing walking.
I’m curious what type of Cessna would allow wing walking.
He probably had one.... But probably thought that wasn't really that important! That is the general mentality these days... "It Can't Happen To Me"
I wonder if it was actually a Cessna at all. To some non-aviation people, any small plane is "a Cessna". Transport Canada and the TSB will be investigating and issuing reports in due course.
Meanwhile, we have another Darwin Award winner.
Meanwhile, we have another Darwin Award winner.
