Jan Wildbergh killed in crash of SNJ-2 at NAS Oceana (EDIT)

[lmritger]

A friend of mine just watched one of the five Skytypers crash at Oceana... no fire, but also no word on injuries. It's just now hitting the news sites here locally (www.wavy.com, www.pilotonline.com, www.wvec.com)... I'll post more as I hear of it.

I'm really hoping the pilot is ok, or only injured...

Lynn

Edit: Changed title of post, reflecting the sad result of today's tragic accident.

Last edited by lmritger on Fri Sep 07, 2007 6:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[sabredriver]

and what is a sktyper? ive never heard of it?? unsual aircraft?

[lmritger]

The Geico Skytypers fly SNJ-2s (according to their site)

www.skytyping.com

Weird thing is, we just saw them parked at Republic Airport this past weekend.

Lynn

[Karpis]

The SkyTypers have been around for many years. Sad that it takes this type of incident to bring them to peoples' attention

[Cindy]

was this also their planes? if so, they've not had the best week


IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 62382 Make/Model: SNJ Description: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-2
Date: 09/02/2007 Time: 1445

Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
City: FARMINGDALE State: NY Country: US

DESCRIPTION
N62382 AND N52033, BOTH NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-2 AIRCRAFT, WHILE TAXIING ON THE
RAMP FOR DEPARTURE, COLLIDED, FARMINGDALE, NY

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: KFRG 021453Z 03006KT 10SM CLR 21/09 A3031

OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Taxi Operation: OTHER


FAA FSDO: FARMINGDALE, NY (EA11) Entry date: 09/04/2007

[Warbirdnerd]

was this also their planes? if so, they've not had the best week

It appears they are.
Both of these birds have had close calls in the past...

http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_i ... 2532&key=1

http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/brief.asp?ev_id=35289&key=0

[krlang]

[wls3]

Geico Skytypers performing at NAS JRB Willow Grove PA in 2005

[krlang]

From ICAS:

WILDBERGH KILLED IN VIRGINIA ACCIDENT

Jan Wildbergh, a pilot with the Geico Skytypers, was killed when his North American SNJ-2 crashed while landing after a media show performance at NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Other details on the accident are not yet available.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Our prayers are with Jan and his family.
God Speed Jan.

[Nathan]

Here is a picture of Jan.

http://www.geicoskytypers.com/skytypers ... dbergh.htm

It's a very sad day for me cause the Skytypers are my favorite airshow performers.



So long #6. Thank you for brightening up peoples lives.

[Django]

Godspeed to him.

Is the season almost over? I can't take much more of this.

[Jack Cook]

The plane had no ejection system, and the pilot was flying too low to use his parachute, team spokesman Ralph Roberts told WAVY-TV in Portsmouth.
"He probably tried to continue to make the maneuver and save the plane, possibly by doing a belly flop," Roberts said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070907/ap_on_re_us/air_show_crash

[Nathan]

Godspeed to him.

Is the season almost over? I can't take much more of this.

I almost feel the same way. But we still got Reno to live threw. I hope all goes well for that risky event.

[Taylor Stevenson]

RIP...