Tiger Moth - On the beach at Fire Island NY
Thu May 07, 2009 11:38 am
I'm a member of the Bayport Aerodrome Society. At our meeting last Sunday, Tiger Moth owner and pilot Ed Katzen relayed the story to us of his recent off field landing. He departed Bayport, Long Island, NY and was flying over Smith's Point Park on Fire Island when he suddenly smelled oil. He looked at the oil pressure and it read zero. He shut the engine down and made a perfect landing on the beach just west of Smith's Pt. I don't have the exact maintenance details but when his mechanic showed up it was determined that the engine problem was not that serious and was easily repaired and the oil refilled.
After a while the park police showed up. Ed at that point begged and pleaded with them to let him take off again from the beach as he only needed a few hundred feet. The answer was an emphatic no. After a while the park police approached and said "Tell you what we'll do for you....We contacted the Suffolk County police and they will close down William Floyd Parkway for you...."
"Great....so we can take off on the parkway then....", "NO!!" "But you can tow it to Brookhaven Airport." That worked out ok as the Moth did not have to be taken apart. She made it to Brookhaven, repairs were made and back to Bayport it was flown.
Pete
Photo by BAS member Bob Mott from his C-150.
After a while the park police showed up. Ed at that point begged and pleaded with them to let him take off again from the beach as he only needed a few hundred feet. The answer was an emphatic no. After a while the park police approached and said "Tell you what we'll do for you....We contacted the Suffolk County police and they will close down William Floyd Parkway for you...."
"Great....so we can take off on the parkway then....", "NO!!" "But you can tow it to Brookhaven Airport." That worked out ok as the Moth did not have to be taken apart. She made it to Brookhaven, repairs were made and back to Bayport it was flown.
Pete
Photo by BAS member Bob Mott from his C-150.
Thu May 07, 2009 11:45 am
Its nice to hear that things worked out well in a situation that could have been much worse. A cool head with quick thinking required. 
Robbie
Robbie
Last edited by Robbie Stuart on Thu May 07, 2009 12:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thu May 07, 2009 11:57 am
I blame the lawyer aspect- "If you take off from our property and crash, we may be held liable."
Thu May 07, 2009 1:47 pm
John Zayac a number of years ago, 2000 i think, had a cylinder blow on his T-6 just after takeoff from Centennial airport in south Denver on his way to Reno.....he landed on a relatively clear stretch of Colorado boulevard, the guys from the airport came out and replaced the cylinder, and the cops CLEARED THE STREET for him to take off and fly back to Centennial for more permanent repairs.....all pretty cool and worked out well, was in the paper the next day, i still have the clippings....
Course, last summer, he was flying it to Reno to sell the bird (race number 12) and he crashed up in the Hills of Colorado near Kremmling. John survived but the plane was a wreck.
Mark
Course, last summer, he was flying it to Reno to sell the bird (race number 12) and he crashed up in the Hills of Colorado near Kremmling. John survived but the plane was a wreck.
Mark