WOW! I guess no one has thought of the family that he left behind. Also that this man has been flying for more years than most have been alive! Amatuer is just a poor choice of words. Being a member of the family I can tell you he was not an amatuer. And the complete lack of sensitivity that has been displayed here is truly disturbing. I hope that no one that has posted here ever has a tragedy happen to any of their family members.

Clear skis calm seas and God's speed Denny it was an honor to have knowen you. For anyone wishing to know more about Mr. Trone or his abilities please Google Dennis Trone or Captian Dennis Trone I think you may find some interesting reading.

It's a matter of being Ignorant. To something he knows nothing about!

Do all aviation enthusiasts get their panties in a bunch as easily as you guys? Geez, lay off the guy. I personally don’t have any fear when flying. I do it all the time for business, but I would never get in a plane that didn’t have a jet engine in it.

optimism You can sleep better tonight and the rest of your nights knowing some statistics

Media coverage would suggest that airline crashes happen every day. Studies have shown one would have to fly once a day every day for over 15,000 years in order to statistically be involved in an aircraft accident! Yet stories of aircraft accidents are between 150 to 200 times more likely to receive front-page coverage than other more common causes of death. Consequently, fearful flyers develop a negative bias toward flying. That is, they will bias their perception to notice those events and experiences that support their fears, i.e. If I believe flying is dangerous and risky, then I will pay attention to anything in the media that supports my fear and perception; I will ignore anything that is contrary to this position, for example, information about the safety of flying.

Your fears become validated by the continual bombardment of media coverage following an airline accident. Who can forget the horrifying coverage of the airplanes flying into the World Trade Center on 9/11 replayed over and over until the major networks agreed it served no purpose to replay the events? But it's highly unlikely that you'll see headlines "Fifty People Killed Yesterday in Bed Falls."

Airplane disasters and plane crash statistics make for more dramatic, "eye-catching" newsprint. Not nearly enough information is printed on aircraft safety. Because disasters seem to be more newsworthy to the public, the media is naturally attracted to the financially acceptable print, and naturally it is LARGE PRINT in these cases.

Probability of being killed in an airplane accident vs. other causes of death
Your chances of being involved in an aircraft accident are about 1 in 11 million. On the other hand, your chances of being killed in an automobile accident are 1 in 5000. Statistically, you are at far greater risk driving to the airport than getting on an airplane. However, the perception is that you have more control over your fate when you are in your car than as a passenger traveling on an airplane. Experience shows otherwise, considering that over 50,000 people are killed on the highways every year.

Since you asked. Ignorant is defined as "lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified". The "thing" in this case is amateur-built aircraft, of which you have said you know nothing about. Opinions formed based on ignorance are irrelevant (meaningless).
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To put it another way, I read a while back that a little girl was injured when the horse she was riding bucked her off and trampled her. I know nothing about horses. I'm ignorant when it comes to horses, but I'm not forming (let alone broadcasting) any opinions about horses, their safety, or the little girls skill. Nor am I looking out the window, praying there isn't a horse nearby.

eetech---regarding your response ---The odd's of any plane falling on your home, let along a "amateur" built plane are astronomical.----Let me add in that a family friend had one of the little planes SKIM THE TOP OF HER SUV WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING IT. Accidents happens and she was on Airport Rd, but c’mon! If a pilot can somehow hit a moving vehicle, what’s to say a house isn’t going to be hit? I too live right by the airport and have been leery since I saw the SUV damage. My father in law has to deal with frequent low fly-bys on his farm scaring his horses too. There are quite a few planes out there all the time and no one seems to be governing them!

Just a question, who's definition of ignorance are you referring to and to whom is this meaningless? We all are unique, and just because you feel my opinions are meaningless, doesn't necessarily mean the next person will.

Nope no interest, just concern. And yes, I pretty much have a habit of living life with anxieties about safety. It's a characteristic flaw.

"Optimism", opinions are what make us interesting. However, ignorance makes your opinions meaningless. Please do read up on "amateur-built" aircraft and the Experimental Aircraft Association. Especially if your concern is of an airplane coming down on your home. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. And by all means, go visit the Pietenpol Fly-in in July and talk to some of the pilots. Obviously you must have an interest in this if you continue to post on this thread.

optimism: The odd's of any plane falling on your home, let along a "amateur" built plane are astronomical. I hope you don't live life in a huge panic about what may happen at any given point in time. Maybe the word "ameteur" should be taken out at most of these people who build them know what they are doing.

I don't mean to disrespect anyone nor question the safety of these planes....I was merely pointing out the fact that AMATEUR doesn't sound safe to me in any respect. They are called AMATEUR for a reason, there must be some sort of code lacking that other aircraft that are certified as passenger planes are required to have. AGAIN, I AM ONLY SPEAKING FROM my own opinions, understandings, I just don't see this as a wise decision. And with these brodhead aircrafts continually flying over my home year-round, this only makes me more nervous than before that one could come down on my home.

Thank you supportlocal. I am a certified airplane mechanic and do know from experiance that these planes are built with safety in mind period! I can say that the aircraft that are experimental built are built stronger and safier then the certified airplanes out there in most cases. Why dont we wait to see what the corner's report says before we jump to conclusions about aircraft and there safety.

Many of the home-builts around Brodhead are Pietenpols. Chances are, this gentleman was flying one (I have no facts to back that up, just going off odds).
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Here's some pictures for those curious about the hobby:
http://www.builddiary.net/plog/21/
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Go visit them during the Pietenpol Fly-in at the Brodhead Airport on the weekend of July 25th. It's a great place to take the kids (young and old).

Kudos to Dennis for taking life by the horns and still being a real go-getter. If flying planes was his passion - good for him - may he rest in peace.

Amateur-built doesn't necessarily mean some guy decided over a whiskey sour one night to build a plane in his garage. Most amateur-built planes are built by people who have been around aviation their entire life.
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I would venture to say that more maintenance is done on amateur-built planes to keep them airworthy than some of the Cessnas out there.
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This guy died doing something he thouroughly enjoyed. Rest in peace.
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More info, if you care to be enlightened:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homebuilt_a...

The thought never crossed my mind...but now that you mention it, no, I wouldn't build a plane and try to fly it. HUH? Where did that come from? I don't think ANYONE should. My theory is if you have no reason being there, than you shouldn't be there. But that is mine...I don't expect others to live by it. This man had his own reason's I am sure, but I feel they were ill-conceived. My OPINION, My FEELINGS. Lesson learned? Hopefully to some.

optimism youve made your point. We understand you wouldn't build a plane and try to fly it.

I am not certified either, but I know one thing. "Amateur-built" and "plane" don't sound like a winning combination. Of course, I am also a firm believer in Darwin's theory of natural selection.

Nope! I have no clue....but I do know what the definition of AMATEUR IS. I certainly wouldn't want any family member of mine in a plane that was a hobby plane. I feel for this man, for this reason. There is no need for name calling!! I hope it makes you feel better, because you didn't offend me in the least. I admit I know nothing about planes.

well at least this guy had the nuts to take a risk and try somthing late in his life. May he rest in peace

Wheres your credentials for you to make such a comment on how safe an airplane is, weather it be amateur or a type certificated airplane? You have no clue! idiot!

Ametuer built?? No wonder. Poor guy!