Mother Lode Crash Sequence

DHC-2 Beaver #274, c/s C-GHCT, Lake Lovelywater, BC., 1981 09 16.

I refer to this video in the title as an "accident" in the sense that the intention, as is the case in any landing, was to conduct a SAFE, uneventful landing. The debate on whether it was an accident or a foregone conclusion is best left to the experts, arm-chair or otherwise. In a different forum.

That being said, as there were no serious casualties, the footage of the incident was incorporated into the movie "Mother Lode", starring Charlton Heston and Kim Basinger.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• mother
• lode
• crash
• beaver
• C-GHCT
• lake
• lovelywater
• cartwheel
• dhc-2

[eenersha]

Where I come from they call this error 'sucking it' -- because when you land too hot (which is what the guy did--i.e. too fast) water drag is so high it feels like mud sucking your over. To make matter worse, the high speed puts the float's center of bouyancy forward of the center of gravity, which is bad. Result is a dangerously unstable aircraft that wants to pitch over. Ad a crab angle at touchdown, and this was the inevitable result.

[Magnolia296]

The flight sequences and cinematography are superb, and the story is excellent. This may be Charlton Heston's only role where is doesn't play excessive melodrama. It was Kim Basinger's first big role before her starmaking role in the Natural.

One of the most underrated movies ever!!!

[SenorSpode]

DVD's out...go get it, it's priced great on eBay!

[777Phoenix11]

@lonaticc I totally agree. Great movie. I have it on VHS, and would love to see it on DVD in much higher quality. Definitely one of the best movies I ever saw. Great suspense/adventure movie, and one of Heston's best performances.

[SenorSpode]

ATTENTION: THIS MOVIE WILL BE AVAILABLE ON DVD on March 30, 2011! Amazon and other online merchants will have this movie in Region 1 DVD and the prices are going to be excellent. About time!!!

[Deltoid71]

@HappyJack01 Maybe they wanted him for the flight sequence leading up to this.....the flight up the canyon.

[Deltoid71]

@SenorSpode

I knew a guy in the CAP in SLC that was the a/c broker that found this particular a/c for the movie.

[SenorSpode]

@zuzupetals1999 I disagree. You have to know where the water level is in relation to your plane at all times, a VSI isn't going to tell you that. It's also not easy eyeballing a VSI and water at the same time, let alone glassy water. This is a landing best done by sight and feel, I'd only be quick-glancing at the VSI up until the last 5 seconds.

[lonaticc]

They need to release this in HD in it's full widescreen format. This is one of Heston's best roles & one of the best suspense adventure movies ever made.

I haven't seen this movie on tv or available anywhere in over 15yrs. or more. My VHS copy is worn out & is not in it's originally shot 2:35 format widescreen version.

[iflyc77]

no serious casualties huh? that is good to know I guess

[HappyJack01]

@ray3maxwell My only question is if they wanted a 'normal' landing, why bother hiring Art Scholl? It seems like if they payed for him to do it, they wanted something extra.

[zuzupetals1999]

Glassy water landings are tricky but you don't use the water to judge your rate of decent. You use the VSI. You don't need to know the exact depth because you don't flair, you set a nose pitch angle and pull back after you hit the water. He looks like he came in hot and tried to flair at the last second. I agree that if he had dropped both floats at the same time, he would have ended up on his back.