Kit plane or factory built when a single engine plane loses power they drop like a rock. Chances of survival is pretty much zero when you fall from a couple hundred feet or more onto hard ground. We'll have to wait for the official report to find out what exactly happened. Condolences to his family.

Not all of them.

FWIW this information is vastly inaccurate. Yes, the particular model of "experimental" kit aircraft Mr. Appleton was flying was a very high performance and less forgiving model which would present additional challenges to a pilot in a loss-of-power situation. That said, Mr. Appleton was an accomplished pilot and understood the risks. Most light aircraft actually glide quite well and well trained pilots who make good decisions about flying over inhospitable terrain, water, at night, etc. have reasonable chances of survival. Piloting a light aircraft has inherent risk and I'd be lying to myself and to you to deny that but for many it is an acceptable risk more than made up for by the remarkable opportunities it provides. I count myself and those like me who get to own and operate light aircraft as remarkably lucky and the airspace system in the US is unique and the most accessible in the world. We have a remarkable country to be seen from the air and I hope you and the other readers wouldn't be shy about taking any opportunities to go flying in a light aircraft with a trusted and appropriately experienced pilot.

Okay... my friend with a 172 invites me to fly up to his weekend place in the next state. How do I determine "trusted and appropriately experienced" in a diplomatic way?

I've driven with him a few times but other than that have no insight into how diligent a pilot he is nor how carefully his plane is maintained.

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