NY Yankees pitcher goes out in a blaze...

[AustinBoston]

His small plane hit an apartment tower in NYC:
http://wcco.com/topstories/topstories_story_284145246.html

Austin

[jpreiser]

poor guy ...

[AustinBoston]

It was clear that he was doing something he deeply loved.  I would rather die tomorrow doing what I love and feel passionate about than live to 95 wasting away in a place where people don't know their own name.

Still, he was young, as was his family...wife and 6 YO son left behind.

Austin

[Monterey]

Philly sports radio is already abuzz with talk about him not being an experienced pilot.  They seem to overlook the fact that he had an instructor with him.  And that his planned flight back to CA for the off season included his instructor as well.  Seems that although inexperienced, he was smart enough to know it and have an instructor with him.  

It's a shame, he was truly a nice guy in an era of rich stuck up atheletes.

[AustinBoston]

Philly sports radio is already abuzz with talk about him not being an experienced pilot.  They seem to overlook the fact that he had an instructor with him.

Experienced is relative.  For someone who had his license less than a year, he had a lot of experience.  One report said he had logged over 400 hours - a lot of CFI's don't have 400 hours!

It's a shame, he was truly a nice guy in an era of rich stuck up atheletes.

How true.

Austin

[CampDirt]

There are rumors at the airport I fly out of that he was flying a Cirrus SR22, a fairly new and common trainer.  There has been at least a dozen accidents in these planes caused by engine failures with no chance of recovery.  

In my heart, I truly believe Lidle and his instructor did everything they could to save it, or minimize damage to others.  Unless you are a pilot (and if you're not give it a try) it's hard to imagine the true love of flight.  Nothing beats the feeling of being in control.  Lidle was a pilot in the true sense of the word - he, like most of us, really loved flying!  He will be missed, not only as a great pitcher and all around good-guy athlete, but also as a well-loved pilot in the world of aviation.    No one in the aviation community is blaming him or his instructor, just an unfortanate accident.  

If you do want to learn how to fly, or make contributions in his honor, check out //www.aopa.org.  It is an organization that caters to all pilots.  Their new program, Project Mentor, pairs new student pilots with members in an informal but fun mentorship.  They also have a whole website dedicated to learning how to fly, including how to start.  If you're not interested in flying, it's important to read the AOPA's viewpoint on this tragedy, right on it's homepage.  Hope this helps.  And stay away from the Cirruses...