So at this airport, there is a shipping channel you fly over right before the airport (the airport is on an island). However, this sailboat was motoring closer to the airport side and didnt have any sails up making it harder to see. Also, we were in an Extra 300, which is a tail dragging aircraft so we couldnt see over the front cowling. We impacted the boat at 40 feet, so gives you a sense of how close it was to the start of the runway. I didnt notice anything until all of a sudden I saw a pole whiz past the right side of my field of view and heard a bang. Next, thing I know we are rotating upside down, I feel an impact, then watch as the ground slides by a foot above my head (the aircraft has a glass canopy). Was conscious the whole time. Ended up pinned between the aircraft and the ground hanging upside down in my harness. Just typing this makes me think, oh yeah that actually happened.
I have seen bad car accidents happen and been in minor ones.
I am curious about how you remember your perception of time. This is a simple description, but it is "fast not fast" when it is happening to you. "Yep this is happening. Oh, they are going 25. Yep they are going to hit me, that is going to be scary, possibly hurt, and cost a lot to repair. I hope this doesn't hurt my neck. I should put my feet flat. Crunch. Okay, that didn't hurt. The airbag didn't deploy. ..." In about 1 second.
Watching the accidents it is sort of surreal, just sort of flat. Bang. Spin. Stop. Airbags deflate. I immediately check surroundings, move out of danger, call 911, try to recall safety things, keep people in place if their injuries seem serious and their vehicle isn't on fire, but it all feels "real time" watching things. It just doesn't register the same in my brain.
Yeah id say this is pretty accurate. My memory of the event is non-continuous, meaning it is composed of very matter of fact thoughts and images not a continuous video. Overall, id say it is real time, though probably drawn out given the amount of thoughts I remember from what was probably 5-10 seconds of real time.
My direct memory is basically as follows:
1. Whoosh of pole, bang noise.
2. "Was that a sailboat"
3. See/feel the world rotate
4. "I think we are going to crash"
5. "I could die"
6. I don't actually remember the impact just flipping and all of a sudden seeing the ground above my head upside down
7. "I'm still alive...but its not over yet"
8. The glass shatters and we come to a stop
9. My friend asks if I am okay. I respond yes.
10. I quickly feel my face as i'm not sure how injured I am, there is some blood on my hands, but not a large amount.
11. I start to feel a burning sensation as some jet fuel and other chemicals are reacting with my skin
12. I start to panic as I realize the gravity of the situation and begin to call for help.
13. Just as I am beginning to really panic, I feel a hand reach in and the plane lifts up.
14. I undo my harness, as my leg moves for the first time, I realize a sharp pain in my foot.
15. I am pulled from the plane and dragged from under my arms with my legs facing the plane. I watch the plane get farther away as im dragged.
16. I am layed down and am instructed not to move until the paramedics come.
