  Today I need to report the loss of long-time local aviator Bill Law. I was a student at Bill Law Aviation and I had just wrapped up ground school this week at his facility. My thoughts and prayers go out to Bill's family, friends and employees. I had met and spoke with Bill several times. A month of Saturday's ago my sons met him and my youngest Nathan was more than happy to ask him questions...especially about "water planes". Bill was kind and tried to answer Nathan's inquisition as best he could. Bill alerted flight controllers that there were engine problems and he was trying to reach an airstrip a few miles away (Ledgedale). The plane was traveling from Batavia to Rochester. Witnesses say the plane clipped several trees, breaking off branches, and then hit the ground a few hundred yards from a section of houses.
Bill was flying his twin engine Piper Navajo, it burst into flames on impact. If you have been following my Flight Log you know that I have been frustrated with my flight instructor recently. Because of this issue I had already met and scheduled my flight training at a new school with a new instructor. Sadly the school that I will be attending at Ledgedale Air Park is only a few miles from where Bill's plane went down. As tragic as today's event is I still want to pursue my dream of soloing and then earn my pilot certificate.
This event reminded me that bad things can happen to the best trained and most experienced pilots. Flying is as glorious as it is unforgiving. High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God. 
