The article:
He 72-year-old star of the Indiana Jones and Star Wars films reported engine failure and crash-landed his vintage plane on a Venice golf course. He was breathing and alert when medics arrived and took him to hospital in a "fair to moderate" condition, a fire department spokesman said. His son Ben, a chef in Los Angeles, later tweeted from the hospital: "Dad is OK. Battered but OK!
Shortly after take-off from Santa Monica Airport, he said he was having engine failure with his 1942 Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR and was making an "immediate return".
More at
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-31759873A lot of experienced and professional pilots have been killed trying to execute the 180 degree return to airport after takeoff. Reason is that potential and kinetic energy reserves in the aircraft are not adequate, also split second timing is required to establish best glide speed. Exception would be high thrust to weight turbo prop aircraft which this certainly was not.
Note he didn't succeed with the 180, looks more like 150 degrees turn.
I know that that "the 180 degree return" is so risky, If someone wants to do it then he should first be an expert.
No.
Ford is lucky to be alive.
There are risk factors involved that go beyond the capacity of skill and experience.
However, if any pilot wants to test this (or anyone, for that matter, with Flight Simulator) it can be done by starting at a maneuvering altitude such as 4000 feet. Then climb in takeoff configuration, and on a random altitude less than, +1500-2000 feet above the 4000, cutting the engine, establishing best glide configuration, and execute the 180.
Success or failure is simply a matter as of whether the resulting altitude is high or lower than 4000 feet.
