The Death of Loretta Fuddy

Posted on October 20, 2018August 29, 2019 by walt313 Leave a comment

On December 11, 2013, about 1522 Hawaiian standard time, a Cessna 208B, N687MA, operated by Makani Kai Air ditched into the ocean near Kalaupapa, Hawaii. The flight departed from the Kalaupapa Airport on the island of Molokai bound for the Honolulu International Airport on the island of Oahu. There were eight passengers aboard.   Loretta Fuddy was the only fatality in a very survivable crash.

THE CRASH

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from runway 05, at an altitude of about 400 feet above ground level (AGL), he began a left turn for a downwind departure. Shortly after passing 500 feet AGL, the pilot motioned toward the power lever to reduce power for the climb when he heard a loud “bang” followed by an immediate loss of engine power. Realizing the airplane was not going to make it to land, he rolled the wings level while broadcasting a mayday distress call. Shortly after, the airplane landed on an open, calm ocean.

THE INVESTIGATION

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident as follows:
The loss of engine power due to the fracture of multiple blades on the compressor turbine wheel, which resulted in a ditching. The reason for the blade failures could not be determined due to secondary thermal damage to the blades.
The pilot reported that he hit his head on the instrument panel during the water impact, and was “bleeding badly” as a result. He unstrapped his harness, yelled at the passengers to get out, and started to grab seat cushions to use as floatation devices. Looking for a life vest, saw one, and gave it to a passenger who said his wife did not have one. The pilot left the aircraft without a life vest, as the airplane was filling with water. After checking to see that the cabin was empty, he exited through the door at the rear of the cabin. The pilot told the passengers to swim away from the airplane because the airplane might sink rapidly and drag them down. The current and waves, which he estimated to be 6 to 8 feet high, gradually separated the group.

Loretta_Fuddy

The one fatality was Loretta Jean Fuddy, (65).

Her autopsy was conducted by Pan Pacific Pathologists, LLC, of Wailuku, Hawaii, under the authority of the Maui Police Department. The findings listed in the autopsy report included “acute cardiac arrhythmia” and “no significant traumatic injuries.” The report noted that she was observed by another passenger “to be fearful and hyperventilating shortly before losing consciousness.” According to the autopsy report, her cause of death was “acute cardiac arrhythmia due to hyperventilation.”

NOW IT GETS WEIRD

I’m going to let you google the weirder aspects of the crash and death of Loretta Fuddy.

THINGS YOU MIGHT LOOK FOR

  • Fuddy wore a defective life vest.
  • She was wearing a child’s life vest.
  • Rescue divers were on scene in less than 20 minutes.
  • Her body was found 80 minutes after the crash.
  • It was the rescue divers that drowned her.
  • Rescue divers injected her with a heart stopping drug.
  • The pilot’s name is blatantly missing from the NTSB report.

Do you see what I mean? Enjoy and leave your favorite conspiracy theory in the comments below.

NTSB REPORT

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Loretta Fuddy was the head of the Hawaii Department of Health who issued Obama’s birth certificate.

Teaching Kids to Shoot

Posted on August 27, 2014August 27, 2014 by walt313 1 Comment

With the tragedy in Dolan Springs, I’m compelled to offer a counterpoint to the hysteria in the media.

httpv://youtu.be/9VVe6e5JXlk

The instructor at “Bullets and Burgers” was shot in the head when the weapon recoiled and the child lost control of the weapon.

 

 

My Dad was retired Army and he didn’t teach me to shoot. I was taught in Boy Scout Summer Camp earning the Rifle and Shotgun Merit Badge. We were taught by an active duty Army Staff Sergeant. I was eleven. There are no pictures because he didn’t want any “playing grab ass with any cameras on my range”.

This wasn't us, but you get the idea.
This wasn’t us, but you get the idea.

When I went through Air Force Basic Training our time on the range seemed very familiar. Some folks had never touched a weapon. They were scary. I’m still pissed because I didn’t medal with the M-16 because some asshole was shooting at my target.

In 1993, I was in Havelock, North Carolina and owned a 357 Magnum and an AR-15. With weapons in the house my sons needed to be taught weapons safety. I also wanted them to fire the weapons and get all the curiosity out of them. Timmy was eight and took to it like a duck to water. Brian was 11 and professed to never, ever touch a gun again.

That's Timmy spotting for me.
That’s Timmy spotting for me.

I have no problem with kids learning to shoot.  But properly, with extreme supervision.  When introducing the weapon to my kids I start with an unloaded weapon and instill in them never to trust it and always treat it as if it’s loaded.  Then,  every time I put a weapon in their hand I have a ceremony.  With me holding it I ask, “What is this?” The correct response is: “That is the power of Life and Death in your hands”.  When I put the unloaded weapon in their hands I ask, “What is that?” the correct response is “The Power of Life and Death in my hands”.

What I Think Went Wrong at Dolan Springs

1. Too much gun.  I would NEVER give a child an automatic weapon.

2. ALWAYS stand behind the person with the weapon.  Even if you are teaching.

3. Familiarize the student with the weapon BEFORE they are on the firing line.

4. Everyone is alert and has situation awareness. If you see something wrong say something.

The following is a video of us shooting.  Our Range Master (yes we appoint one) that day was SSG Paul Fairfield, U.S. Army.  He was the most experienced in our group. Watch how we do it and voice any concerns because we can always learn to do better.

httpv://youtu.be/Tanp38EILaE

Since then, Rosie has become very competent.

Recently we went to the Mob Museum here in Las Vegas.  They have a shooting simulator set up.  The kind police use to teach tactical situations.  The weapon was a real but modified Smith and Wesson 38.  When Rosie took her turn, she properly identified the threat then put “Two in the meat and one upstairs” just like I taught her.  I was very proud of her.  On my turn I put two into the suspect but then shot the hostage/bystander.

In my house guns aren’t taken lightly.  They are unloaded at all times but handy if we need them.  They are only picked up to use and when being used I’ve taught my daughter and two wives to scream “I FEAR FOR MY LIFE!!!”, then empty the weapon.