V tail Bonanza escapes Johnson Creek - 2 pm. Light south winds 90 degree F.
This video had about 150 views total until late Sept 2023 and for some reason went totally viral. Yes it has a click bait title but that was not my intention. If you fly in and out of mountain strips you must understand density altitude. Density altitude is effected by elevation, temperature and humidity. There are less air molecules at altitude and on hotter days to create lift under the wing and produce compression within the cylinders of the engine. Consequently the performance of the wing and engine are reduced as the density altitude is increased. Humidity effects density altitude because the vaporized water displaces the air molecules further reducing lift and compression in the engine.
Johnson Creek (3U2) sits at an elevation of 5000 feet and 3500 feet long. It is in the heart of the Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho. It is a spectacular place to camp, hike, fish, and commune with nature. It is a focal point in the Frank Church Wilderness with a rich history. Mountain Flying caries more risk in part due to density altitude and needs to be factored into one's risk assessment. With proper training, proficiency and education much of the risk can be mitigated. Many of the strips have non standard approaches often with no option for a go around or rejected takeoff. I have other videos on this channel that show a lot backcountry strips in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. I have a CFII/MEI and stay active instructing in a variety of aircraft and am very passionate about about aviation..
This video is instructional to anyone wanting to learn about Density Altitude. The temperature was over 90 degree F this afternoon and it was unusually humid. There was a 5-10 knot quartering tailwind. The DA was about 8200 feet that day. Runway 35 is standard departure from Johnson Creek. The 35 Bonanza was loaded with 4 adults. . Unknown how much fuel or baggage was onboard. I doubt he was in a turbocharged aircraft. When we heard the engine start and taxi down toward the departure end of 35 we were all surprised. Most people do not fly in the afternoons in Idaho and the general recommendations among most seasoned mountain/canyon pilots is to be down on the ground by 11-11:30 AM. Certainly on cooler days you can fly later and on hotter days you may need to get down sooner. Fly early and fly light.
This pilot did a good job once airborne not to stall the airplane. He kept the nose down and contoured the terrain. I believe he wisely headed up the canyon to gain lift created by updrafts on the northwest walls. I agree he should have deployed 10-20 degrees of flaps on the departure. Maybe flown out solo at first to test the conditions. A wiser decision would have been to wait until it cooled off. Below is a video of a loaded Stinson departing from Bruce Meadows with 4 people that crashed into the trees on the departure end in 2012 luckily not killing anyone. Every year people die because they do not factor DA into their flight planning.
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Hope this answers most of the questions. Safe Flying for Everyone and Support the RAF (Recreational Aviation Foundation) and IAA (Idaho Aviation Association).
