More on JFK, Jr.

Kennedys current logbook was not located. The NTSB used records from training facilities, copies of flight instructors logbooks, and statements from instructors and pilots to estimate the pilots total flight experience ...at about 310 hours, of which 55 hours were at night. His estimated flight time in the accident airplane was about 36 hours, of which 9.4 hours were at night.

Editorial Staff

Thursday, June 16, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The NTSB estimated JFK Jr. had sufficient recent night flight experience, including with instructors, in the accident aircraft, despite a broken ankle and missing logbook.
Pilots are advised to treat airport line service personnel with respect and consider tipping, as their assistance can significantly impact safety and the overall flying experience.
Dihedral contributes to aircraft roll stability by creating a restoring moment when a wing drops, due to changes in lift vectors, which helps return the aircraft to a wings-level attitude.

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Your article, “Revisiting JFK, Jr.” (June 2016), included the phrase “…the pilot was current, including at night….” I found that interesting, as his night currency was an issue that I had never seen addressed until your article. I remember reading some accounts that said his logbook had not been found, and others that stated he was on crutches at the time of the flight.

According to one article, he had a cast removed from his broken ankle one day prior to the flight. The ankle was reportedly broken six weeks earlier, which would have had him in a cast for the previous six weeks. If we assume he didn’t try to fly during that time, that leaves roughly six weeks in which he would have had to log his three night takeoffs and landings. That’s certainly doable, but I’ve always wondered whether he actually did.