Stearman crash in Fabens, TX

[Clifford Bossie]

I just noticed this on the local news feed.

A plane came to rest in the desert near the Fabens Airport following a crash landing Sunday. (Victor Calzada / El Paso Times)Engine failure may have caused a small airplane to crash in Fabens on Sunday morning, injuring its two occupants, according to Deputy Angie Becerra, spokeswoman for the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
A witness said the plane took off from the Fabens Airport, veered left and then crashed into the desert, Becerra said.

The crash happened at 11:30 a.m., about 100 yards west of the 1700 block of North Fabens Road.

The plane contained two males, George Doyle and William Terrell, both 52.

Becerra said both men sustained facial, leg, hip and chest injuries. Their injuries are not considered life-threatening, but they were airlifted to area hospitals for treatment.

"They were pretty banged up," Becerra said.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified about the crash and the Texas Department of Public Safety will assist with the investigation.

[mazdaP5]

There's a lot of that going around this summer.

[Dan Jones]

Jeeeee Zzussss.....

Hope they're alright. Looks like she hit the ground unimaginably hard. All derisiveness and good natured snide remarks aside, that is one amazingly rugged airplane when you see one naked, and beautifully built.

Any more info on what happened exactly?

Dan

[Clifford Bossie]

Jeeeee Zzussss.....

Hope they're alright. Looks like she hit the ground unimaginably hard. All derisiveness and good natured snide remarks aside, that is one amazingly rugged airplane when you see one naked, and beautifully built.

Any more info on what happened exactly?

Dan

Nothing to add yet, just the link I posted. Neither individual appears to be sriously injured.

[marine air]

I have a lot of Stearman flighttime and can tell by looking at the photo what happened. But if I comment the hypervigilant mods will remove my post!

[stumac]

I would like to hear what you think happened

[WIXMOD-Alpha]

I have a lot of Stearman flighttime and can tell by looking at the photo what happened. But if I comment the hypervigilant mods will remove my post!

That very much depends on what is said... and how it is said. Some of us are likely friends of yours...

[gunnyperdue]

Well, from the picture you can tell a few things:

- the engine was not producing power on impact
- the impact was greater than 16g, probably closer to 20-25 (sheared engine mounts), the gear will fail around 16g, the wings also sheared which means 20+ g impact
- it hit in a level attitude and very likely a near full stall, given that the left gear folded forward of the wing, I would hazard a guess that it hit very tail low and slapped forward, increasing the g felt by the gear/engine mounts/ wing.... I think it was in a full stall with a descent rate greater than 800-1000 fpm
- the cockpits are intact, the report is the pilots received minor injuries... I suspect those would be cuts/ bruises to the forehead... they had their 'bell rung'
- the Stearman is stressed for -11g and +9g (hard student landings and general rough treatment)

An engine failure at altitude unknown, followed by a full stall descent to the ground. I would not second guess these guys, there might have been somethings that they could have done better... and there might not.... the bottom line is they lived. My two cents is that I think it was in a full stall with a descent rate greater than 800-1000 fpm... under control... and my nickel on the grass is a little forward velocity would have made a huge difference to the outcome... but then again I do not know the terrain... or the choices faced by the pilot...

Did that piss anyone off?
gunny

[astixjr]

I'm sure sorry to see that their Stearman is so torn up but the fact that they have "non-life threatening injuries" really says a great deal about the crash survivability of a Stearman (again). I hope both occupants have a speedy recovery. I'm with GunnyPerdue, I would be concerned about possible spinal injury on this one. It takes a whole lot of Gs to do that to a Stearman. Seriously, I would not want to try this type of collision with the ground in a N3N or a Waco.

Please don't tell the N3N or Waco freaks on this forum that I'm hiding behind that bush over there......

[Fouga23]

Am I the only one wondering about the whereabouts of N3NJeff right before that stearman took off?