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ESPN is running an article about the death of New York Yankees
pitcher, Cory Lidle.  The article is entitled "Lidle Dies after Plane
Crashes into NYC High-Rise."

The northern end of the airspace over the East River is a treacherous,
narrow corridor often filled with helicopters ferrying tourists, business
people and traffic reporters along the edge of Manhattan. Small planes
like Mr. Lidle’s are allowed to fly through the area at low altitude, but
several pilots said they did not dare because it could be crowded.
Read the article!!


Lesson Ideas:

  • Ask students if they think that the accidental crash and death of
    a New York Yankees pitcher deserves front page coverage in
    newspapers across the country. Encourage them to explain
    their opinions. Ask them if they think this story would have
    been placed on the front page in the days before 9/11/2001.
    You might ask students to write a persuasive essay in which
    they take a perspective on these questions. They might blog
    these essays.

  • The article explains that many pilots wouldn't dare fly over the
    East River as Mr. Lidle and his instructor had done. Tell
    students to consider why Mr. Lidle might have chosen to fly
    through such an area. In groups they should develop mock
    interviews with Mr. Lidle in which he explains what his
    objectives were in flying for the day? Students might podcast
    or vodcast these interviews.

  • Mr. Lidle and his instructor were flying over some incredibly
    beautiful human-made areas. Students might explore the skyline
    and streets of the area. This website is an album of New York
    City, ask students what pictures they might include in an album
    of your own community. If possible allow the students to
    actually create these albums. You might have them make wikis
    with the pictures. Perhaps you could also ask them to justify
    why they have taken each picture. (To make this even a bit
    more complicated you might limit the number of pictures they
    can take. What are the most important images from your
    town?)

  • The article discusses the effect that wind can have on flying. In
    a science class you might consider this effect. The article
    states that, "Yesterday afternoon, according to the National
    Weather Service, the wind was blowing from the east at 14
    miles per hour, conditions that would have made the turn
    wider." Ask students to consider why this might be the case.
Plane Crash
October 12, 2006
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