I can think of a lot worse ways to go

Last month, a small plane crashed near the Sugar Valley Airport in NC. The pilot and one passenger were killed. Another passenger was seriously injured. 

Small plane crashes are nothing new or rare. In late June, there was a particularly sad one in Beverly, Mass, when a 30 year old pilot - an aeronautical engineering PhD whose wife is expecting their first child in the fall - was killed when his plane crashed shortly after takeoff. 

Earlier in the year, a Massachusetts family was wiped out in another horrific small plane crash in Upstate NY. Two surgeon parents, their two young adult children, and the about-to-be-engaged partners of those children. 

Then there was the June Sugar Valley accident, which occurred because the pilot: 

...had lifted a wheel after landing to spare a turtle on the runway, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report. (Source: NY Times)

A communications officer at the airport had let the pilot know that there was a turtle on the runway as the plane was preparing to land. 

The pilot landed but then lifted the Universal Stinson 108 plane’s right wheel to avoid the turtle.

The pilot then hit the throttle and try to take off again, but the take off was rocky. Just off the runway, the plane crashed and burned.

It was unclear whether the pilot’s decision to lift the tire to avoid the turtle caused the crash.

It sure sounds like things gang agley because the pilot was trying not to hit the turtle. 

Sure, the pilot could have been trying to avoid the turtle because he thought hitting it would knock his plane around. Or maybe, as I like to think, he didn't want to kill the poor creature. I like to think that his last act of life was one of sweetness, a split-second kindness that went wrong.

When those piloting small planes die, I tend to think that they died doing something they loved. Because anyone I've ever known who flies small planes - and I've known a few - absolutely loves flying. And there are worse ways to go than doing something you love. (Or course, this doesn't extend to the passengers who are just along for the ride.)

So sure, it may have been stupid to take a risk to spare a turtle who couldn't move fast enough to get out of the way, but I'm going to go with the pilot died doing something he loved - flying - and while trying to save the life of an animal.

I can think of a lot worse ways to go.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Image Source: Wikipedia