Bramlage family plane crash

[Mr. Laz]

Members of Kansas Bramlage family among 6 killed in Florida plane crash

LAKE WALES, FLA. -- Several members of the prominent Bramlage family of Kansas died today when their small plane crashed in a swampy area of central Florida.

The group was heading home to Kansas from the Bahamas, The Ledger of Lakeland reported. Authorities weren’t immediately naming the deceased, but Clint Francis, who works with Roadside Venture in Junction City, Kan., told the The Ledger that the plane is owned by that company, and the dead include the company owner Ron Bramlage and family members.

Ron Bramlage is the grandson of the late Fred Bramlage, who made the principal donation for the construction of Bramlage Coliseum on the Kansas State campus. The arena, which is home to the K-State basketball teams, was built for $17.2 million and opened in 1988. His wife, Becky, was the president of the Junction City school board, The Wichita Eagle said.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the plane went down just after noon in Tiger Creek Preserve.

The call came in around 12:40 p.m. that the Pilatus PC-12 turboprop, single-engine plane had crashed, WTSP-TV reported. The station also reported it took crews over an hour to reach the plane because of the lack of accessibility to the area.

The Associated Press and The Wichita Eagle

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/06/07/3647543/members-of-kansas-bramlage-family.html#storylink=cpy

[Rain Man]

Who are the Bramlages?

[OnTheWarpath15]

Who are the Bramlages?

Someone important at K-State - the basketball arena is named after them.

[Discuss Thrower]

Now my grandad's edict that our family never ride in the same plane at once makes sense.

[siberian khatru]

Octagon of Doom indeed.

[Braincase]

My sympathies to all K-State fans and the Bramlage family. Terrible news.

[kstater]

Rich people problems.

[KevB]

Rich people problems.

Really?

[BoneKrusher]

My sympathies to all K-State fans and the Bramlage family. Terrible news.

i second this.

[JD10367]

That's a fairly large plane to have only one engine. Just goes to show why two is better than one. And from the Bahamas to Kansas, in a plane that small?

[kstater]

Really?

You disagree that flying on a private jet back from the Bahamas to Kansas and crashing is a rich person problem?

[Tombstone RJ]

That's a fairly large plane to have only one engine. Just goes to show why two is better than one. And from the Bahamas to Kansas, in a plane that small?

I doubt it was all on a single tank of gas, probably had to stop and refuel. Too bad about his family. The plane they were flying is not a big expensive, fancy plane, but yah, it's a one single prop engine in the nose of the fuselage.

[KevB]

You disagree that flying on a private jet back from the Bahamas to Kansas and crashing is a rich person problem?

A bit early to make light of it.

[Simply Red]

You disagree that flying on a private jet back from the Bahamas to Kansas and crashing is a rich person problem?

wow I thought you left us.

[Rain Man]

That's a fairly large plane to have only one engine. Just goes to show why two is better than one. And from the Bahamas to Kansas, in a plane that small?

Single-engine planes make me nervous. It seems like the potential for fatal problems is exponentially higher in a single-engine than a multi-engine.

[gblowfish]

That's terrible news for K-State and their supporters.

[Discuss Thrower]

Single-engine planes make me nervous. It seems like the potential for fatal problems is exponentially higher in a single-engine than a multi-engine.

Only on takeoff or landing. Otherwise losing your one engine is only a problem if you can't find a safe place to put it down.

[Buehler445]

Nobody deserves that. Prayers are with the family and KSU.

[Dragonocho]

i second this.

Me too. RIP. Nobody deserves this.

[Trivers]

Only on takeoff or landing. Otherwise losing your one engine is only a problem if you can't find a safe place to put it down.

when I'm rich and famous and member of the 1%.....I will have Cirrus 22T. It has an entire airplane parachute. If you use it, it ruins the plane, but who cares if it gets me down on good old Terra safely.

Sorry for their loss. Never wish on anyone.

[Saulbadguy]

This is what we get for making fun of Brook Berringer.

[Al Bundy]

Holy crap, it broke apart in the air. That must have been terrifying for those poor people in that airplane. I know right where it crashed too... that is terrible news.

[NewChief]

A bit early to make light of it.


Assholery is sort of the shtick of the EMAW crowd, evidently.

[Discuss Thrower]

Assholery is sort of the shtick of the EMAW crowd, evidently.

We've got a 10-15 on the Planet, 10-15 10-15 shots fired!

[NewChief]

We've got a 10-15 on the Planet, 10-15 10-15 shots fired!

Heh. I don't think they'd even bother denying it. They sort of pride themselves on being like the ForChan (4chan autocorrects) of sports BBs.

[Bambi]

Holy crap, it broke apart in the air. That must have been terrifying for those poor people in that airplane. I know right where it crashed too... that is terrible news.

Where'd you read that?

[DeezNutz]

Terribly sad.

[Al Czervik]

Prayers to all the Family and Friends as well as the KSU nation...
Sad news indeed....

[WilliamTheIrish]

Didn't know em.

[Tombstone RJ]

Holy crap, it broke apart in the air. That must have been terrifying for those poor people in that airplane. I know right where it crashed too... that is terrible news.

How do you know it broke apart in the air? That means some kind of catastrophic failure or a bomb of some kind.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Assholery is sort of the shtick of the EMAW crowd, evidently.

Yea, it's a little better than being a part of the toothless inbred hillbilly crowd that yells SOOOEY WarPIG!.

[NewChief]

Yea, it's a little better than being a part of the toothless inbred hillbilly crowd that yells SOOOEY WarPIG!.

Definitely. At least you guys are a product of environment, not genetics.

[Al Bundy]

Where'd you read that?

They reported it on the local news. I believe it was a PC with a Florida police chief or someone.

[CosmicPal]

I saw this earlier on the news here in Tampa. It was breaking news here.

They said it was on its way to Kansas, but they didn't know who was on the plane at the time.

My sympathies to the family.

[kchero]

Tragic news to the community of Junction City and K-staters. Prayers to the family and loved ones.

[Mojo Jojo]

I went to high school with Becky...so tragic for such a beautiful person both inside and out.

[BoneKrusher]

saw this on cnn this morning.
so sad.
an entire family wiped out, one body still missing.

[ReynardMuldrake]

Damn, that's terrible news. R.I.P.

[Reerun_KC]

when I'm rich and famous and member of the 1%.....I will have Cirrus 22T. It has an entire airplane parachute. If you use it, it ruins the plane, but who cares if it gets me down on good old Terra safely.

Sorry for their loss. Never wish on anyone.

I doubt it was all on a single tank of gas, probably had to stop and refuel. Too bad about his family. The plane they were flying is not a big expensive, fancy plane, but yah, it's a one single prop engine in the nose of the fuselage.



http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/ (http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/)


I guess 3+ million for an airplane isnt big or expensive? Pilatus arent cheap by any means and even the older ones pull 2+ million.

Also the Sr-22 with the chute is a nice safety feature, but people have died in the SR-22 after landing with the chute deployed. They are much safer than most but they arent guranteed. Just like an airbag in a car. He helps but it doesnt gurantee anything...

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Reports are that pieces of the aircraft were found as far as 2 miles from the impact site.

This plane was recently bought by Bramlage, it used to belong to Casey Anthony's attorney, and he used it to fly her out of Florida after her trial.

[kepp]

Terrible news...my condolences to kstate nation.

[Reerun_KC]

Reports are that pieces of the aircraft were found as far as 2 miles from the impact site.

This plane was recently bought by Bramlage, it used to belong to Casey Anthony's attorney, and he used it to fly her out of Florida after her trial.

I wonder if they went through any convective activity... Only time I have ever heard of something like this is people making the choice to fly through Culumus clouds...

[mikeyis4dcats.]

I wonder if they went through any convective activity... Only time I have ever heard of something like this is people making the choice to fly through Culumus clouds...

Reports re that there was a large hole in the fuselage. They believe the missing child was sucked out of the aircraft at altitude. Metal fatigue or other structural failure the likely cause IMHO.

[kepp]

Reports re that there was a large hole in the fuselage. They believe the missing child was sucked out of the aircraft at altitude. Metal fatigue or other structural failure the likely cause IMHO.

Horrible. I can't imagine that.

[baitism]

With the number of small plane flights in the US, I am surprised stuff like this doesn't happen more often...

[Reerun_KC]

With the number of small plane flights in the US, I am surprised stuff like this doesn't happen more often...

Training, rules and regulations prevent alot of accidents from happening. Maintenance is usually top notch.

If the Department of Transportation would implement the same training standards as the FAA does, we wouldnt have as many accidents and deaths on the roads each year.

[Kerberos]

I new Ron from High School daze. He was a decent guy. A good friend and I opened a restaurant back in mid 90's and Becky Bramlage did our accounting. Great person and beautiful lady. This is a true tragedy. They will be missed in the town of Junction City, KS.

[Kerberos]

http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/ (http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/)


I guess 3+ million for an airplane isnt big or expensive? Pilatus arent cheap by any means and even the older ones pull 2+ million.
...


Dude was worth in the upwards of 100's of millions. So 3M for an aircraft was a way for him to fly his family around without all the hassle of airlines.

I guarantee the Tour company that Ron started with the aircraft was just a way of writing off his fuel on taxes as an expense.

His grandpa supposedly bought big chunks of land in Illinois back in the 50's that now encompass parts of what is now downtown Chicago. Great investment on his part if true.

[KCFalcon59]

I new Ron from High School daze. He was a decent guy. A good friend and I opened a restaurant back in mid 90's and Becky Bramlage did our accounting. Great person and beautiful lady. This is a true tragedy. They will be missed in the town of Junction City, KS.

I didn't know Ron or Becky as well as you. Had more dealings with Fred through the years. It's just awful and tragic. Why couldn't this have happened when Casey Anthony was on the plane. Just unfair.

[Reerun_KC]

I just read an article on Fox that said Ron was flying the Pilatus...

One thing I have learned about people who are not professional pilots, they are more willing to take risks, even with family on board. As in pushing the plane past its limits to get home. That get home'itus gets so many people in trouble.

There was a prominate buisness man here in OKC that just went down in the south and his plane broke apart just about a week ago. He decided to fly in weather that he shouldnt of been flying in. The storm ripped the plane apart and he ended up hundreds of yards away from the wreckage.

The family from Scott City over a year ago, flying in IFR weather with very low ceilings at the time of arrival in Topeka area. Probably should of waited for better weather or higher ceilings.

Now this. Being in aviation for this long you see alot of people come, go and pass on. I hate to say it, but I would venture to say this was pilot error and he pushed the plane into weather he shouldnt of. Just a guess.

Planes just dont break apart. There is usually a reason.

[vailpass]

There are some distant relatives sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring today.

[siberian khatru]

Reports re that there was a large hole in the fuselage. They believe the missing child was sucked out of the aircraft at altitude. Metal fatigue or other structural failure the likely cause IMHO.

Jesus H. Christ. That is awful.

[Kerberos]

I didn't know Ron or Becky as well as you. Had more dealings with Fred through the years. It's just awful and tragic. Why couldn't this have happened when Casey Anthony was on the plane. Just unfair.

Back in the early 90's when I was going to the gym all the time I used to work out with Ron and Becky at the YMCA. (He was convinced I was using roids)

Fred was twice the business man Ron was but I think Ron was actually starting to see things the way his Grandpa did. I think he had everything you could want. Truly tragic.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Hate to say it, but a pilot buddy told me today that word was Ron was a bit loose and took too many risks. Said an instructor that knew him predicted he would likely some day go to far.

:(

[notorious]

http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/ (http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/)


I guess 3+ million for an airplane isnt big or expensive? Pilatus arent cheap by any means and even the older ones pull 2+ million.

Also the Sr-22 with the chute is a nice safety feature, but people have died in the SR-22 after landing with the chute deployed. They are much safer than most but they arent guranteed. Just like an airbag in a car. He helps but it doesnt gurantee anything...

This.


Pilatus's are badass, BTW.

[notorious]

Hate to say it, but a pilot buddy told me today that word was Ron was a bit loose and took too many risks. Said an instructor that knew him predicted he would likely some day go to far.

:(

Fuck.


I have known a few in my days, and thank God none of my old students have killed themselves yet.

Maybe all of that weather prep and scaring the hell out of them has worked.......so far.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

the most heartbreaking thing to me is thinking how far that little kid fell. Do the math, from 26,000ft, falling at 54m/s. :( Hopefully he was unconscious from hypoxia, but not guaranteed.

[GoHuge]

Hate to say it, but a pilot buddy told me today that word was Ron was a bit loose and took too many risks. Said an instructor that knew him predicted he would likely some day go to far.

:(Have heard the exact same thing about Rob. Doesn't make it any less of a tragedy, but it is what it is. I think by the time it is all sorted out (hopefully not but) it's going to be reminiscent of JFK Jr. Still sucks because they were great people and wonderful ambassadors of K-State.........will very much be missed.

[Dylan]

Very sad. R.I.P.

PC-12 is a highly sophisticated Swiss turboprop plane.



June 8, 2012
Captain Carl Valeri is a commercial airline pilot. He says that mayday call means Ron Bramlage knew there was a problem.

But what was the problem?

"What was the mayday call, what was the distress call, was it a call that he lost his air speed indicator, was it a distress call that he had a problem with icing, did he have a problem mid flight, controlling the airplane?"

Capt. Valeri said the plane, a PC12, is a mid-size aircraft. He says it has a lot of technology on it, and anyone who flies it should get significant training, and be retrained often.

"If you don't' have a lot of experience, or you don't practice enough, unfortunately you might get overwhelmed. And if you get overwhelmed, it could have a bad result," Valeri said.

He believes the flight track shows Ron lost control of the aircraft and couldn't recover. The NTSB says the plane had structural separation on the right and left wings.

Capt. Valeri says that can happen if the plane is overstressed. He says it had to have been catastrophic for 13-year-old Boston to have been ejected from the plane.

"It must have been a very violent situation for all that to be happening, for someone to actually have left the aircraft," Valeri said.

After observing the plane, Monville said it crashed on its side at a slant and that structural separation to the left and right wings, along with the horizontal stabilizer, had occurred, something that hasn't been seen before in these types of aircraft.

"Our job is to determine what happened and why," Monville said.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/18742829/2012/06/08/questions-surround-polk-plane-crash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=QSJYKqAmdas Flying the PC12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=jvpeVm8LBCI

[Kerberos]

Hate to say it, but a pilot buddy told me today that word was Ron was a bit loose and took too many risks. Said an instructor that knew him predicted he would likely some day go to far.

:(

This doesn't surprise me in the least but I also watched the news where they were interviewing someone that saw it coming down and he said it sounded like the engine was stalling and trying to quit and after a few more seconds it finally did. That is when it came down fast.

There was a mayday call and the pilot reported an emergency and then that was all they heard.

[Reerun_KC]

This doesn't surprise me in the least but I also watched the news where they were interviewing someone that saw it coming down and he said it sounded like the engine was stalling and trying to quit and after a few more seconds it finally did. That is when it came down fast.

There was a mayday call and the pilot reported an emergency and then that was all they heard.

Its a turbine they just dont "spit and sputter" Second if it is starving for fuel because the plane is coming apart, then yeah it might make some different noises..

But turboprops are not like your regular piston engine.

[Reerun_KC]

Hate to say it, but a pilot buddy told me today that word was Ron was a bit loose and took too many risks. Said an instructor that knew him predicted he would likely some day go to far.

:(

Post #50 sums this up...

[Reerun_KC]

****.


I have known a few in my days, and thank God none of my old students have killed themselves yet.

Maybe all of that weather prep and scaring the hell out of them has worked.......so far.

So far none of my students has done anything stupid that I know of.

Everytime I sign someone off, it scares the hell out of me and gives me a sick feeling in the stomach.