Parachutes are safety devices. They should be used as such. There is never a need to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, unless you decide that your chances for survival are better outside it.

Now you don't even need to leave the comforts of the airplane to survive.

While getting my pilots license, one of the things they taught me to do is turn the tiny Cessna into the wind when the wind is blowing across the runway (cross-wind landings). The technique is called 'crabbing'. The plane fly's in one direction, while the nose is pointing another. No problem for a Cessna, but how about a 747?

Just incase you were wondering who was the badder beast.

I have balked a few landings during my training. (and even after) But somehow I don't think they were this spectacular.

Some drive, some walk, others just drop in.

In New Jersey they don't let you pump your own gas. I guess these guys should have taken a hint.

Do you ever get a warm fuzzy feeling from the misfortune of others? Here is a classic example. What did they expect?!

Before a pilot can act as the Pilot In Command of an aircraft, they must first be 'checked out' in that particular aircraft. i.e.: If you fly a Cessna, you can't hop in a Piper and fly it away. You have to have an instructor sit with you for a few hours so they are sure you can fly the 'new' aircraft.

Here is a good example why this practice is in use.

News Chopper 4 looses its tail rotor, and control. Captured by News 7. Who are you going to watch?

(all 3 onboard survived with only minor injuries)