Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Date: Thu, 05 Aug 2004 00:17:50 -0400
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From: "Valin & Allyson Thorn" <thorn@starflight.aero>
Subject: Re: Shannon Knoepflein's Legacy Accident
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Shannon's death is tragic and painful.  I think most of us can't help
but feel a certain kinship to all aviators - especially those who are
building or flying the same airplane as we are.  I knew Shannon mostly
through the LML discussions.  Reviewing his postings and his builder's
website reminds me of the brotherhood we all share.  He was young, very
smart, and built an excellent airplane.  

Shannon and I talked briefly at the Lancair Oshkosh Banquet the night
before the accident.  Since he'd been flying his Legacy for over a year,
with about 250 hours on it, I was curious to know what lingering
problems he was having that we should pay particular attention to in
building our Legacy.  He said he was having hot engine problems.  He
recounted that he'd recently taken his mother flying and that while on
the ground he was getting oil temperatures approaching 240 deg F and was
about to shut the engine down if he hadn't been cleared for take off.
He said he'd programmed his SFS to warn of oil temperatures over 220 deg
F.  I asked if he was using synthetic oil and he said no but that he
probably should.  He said that in flight he had two cylinders that were
running high CHT's.  I think he said 1 & 3 but I'm really not sure.  As
I understand it, Shannon had an IO-550N with supercharger and air
conditioning.  In reviewing his LML postings, I noticed that his June
posting summarizing problems he'd been working through did not mention
the engine heating problems.

Last Sunday at Oshkosh was a pretty hot day and we all know it can take
some time to get off the ground with many people trying to get out.  The
heat is hard on any airplane and pilot.  News reports say Shannon's
engine problems began about 10 miles southeast of Madison, at about
8,000 ft, and he crashed about a mile east of the Dane County Regional
airport.  He obviously thought he could make the airport and chose to
fly to the city to get to it.  I wish he would have chosen to put it
down on one of the rural roads or golf courses in the area where his
engine failed.  

The cause of the engine failure may be totally unrelated to the high
temperature problems he told me about.  We'll have to wait for the
results of the accident investigation to form any conclusions.

I really feel the loss to our community from Shannon's death.  The loss
to his family and close friends must be devastating and I extend my
deepest sympathies.  

It says a lot about Shannon and all of us that we pursue our love of
flight even with the costs, time, and inherent risks involved.  We don't
think the worst will happen to us - but we know it can.  I remain
optimistic that new technologies, innovations, and improved pilot
training will continue to improve the safety of personal aviation.
Flying and airplanes bring so many rewards on so many levels that we've
all decided it's worth the risks. 

Valin Thorn
Legacy
Houston, Texas