What would you have done?

[ancient-one]

Thanks for your comments! I feel OK with what I did. It was just one of the things in my life that comes back once in awhile. I would have regretted it had I gone the other way.
tlawler, I am not sure if I ever saw the pilot again. When you are trying to get 10 aircraft ready at the same time(think hand inertia starters with some cadets not really good at starting aircraft) you don't have time to look the instructor pilot. I would have really liked to have talked to him.

 

[dasnake]

Well don't stop there.................

Your reference was just getting interesting, finish it, finish it.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I think you did the right thing. Your judgment of the pilot's taxi speed, accurate as it may have been, is just a best guess on your part. You don't mention what the aircraft type was, some planes have an inherently higher taxi speed than others, sometimes in order to maintain enough control authority (prop wash over the tail surfaces) to properly maneuver.

You would have to assume the sailor crossing the taxiway was educated in flight line etiquette, since he was on the flight line, which is normally a controlled access area. It was incumbent on him to have an eye out for moving aircraft, regardless of the cold and wind which had him hunkered down with his collar up and watch cap down. It's a matter of the least maneuverable "vehicle" having the right of way, and it was easier for the pedestrian to avoid the aircraft than vice-versa, and since it occurred on an active taxiway, the plane normally has the right of movement.

I have a fair amount of military flightline experience, but it had to do with jet engines more than propellers. In either case, it's the individual's responsibility to stay out of the way and watch both where he's going and what to avoid.

 

[Doug M.]

When I was in LE, there were a few times when I stopped and talked to pedestrians about their poor choices - and they were not near as poor as what you describe. As a prosecutor, when we were still a small enough county to also be the coroner, I went to several death scenes where people died because they made really unsound choices - but not as bad as you describe.

Under most if not all conditions, pedestrians lose to vehicles. That's basic physics - and I am not a scientist. You did the right thing as I see it. To my analysis, this seems like almost a suicide.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

If there was a clearly explained-and enforced-SOP and the victim ignored it, then he can only blame himself.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Sir,

You did the right thing. You can't second guess the past, so, as some have said, put it away and try to forget it. I will pray that God relieves you of the bad thought when it pops up.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[johnbeaver]

Sounds like you acted quickly and decisively. Nothing else you could have done.
Just not a good outcome, but nothing on you.

 

[llowry61]

You did the right thing for all the reasons already mentioned. Thank you for your service and I hope that you can rest easy.