T-6 Down on Long Island 5/30/18

[TAdan]

Looks like a T-6 is down on Long Island, possibly a Geico Skytyper.


http://abc7ny.com/small-plane-crashes-o ... d/3540092/

Not much information out yet. I hope the pilot was able to get out safely.

[cg51]

News 4 just confirmed pilot did not make it out. Sad.

[Scott Rose]

Very sad news

[ZRX61]

A guy with that company asked me a few months ago if I'd be interested in working for them.

[ZRX61]

.

[Fearless Tower]

A guy with that company asked me a few months ago if I'd be interested in working for them.

I know a guy who flies for them (#2). He seems to really enjoy it. I don't know who the pilot was who was killed, but it wasn't the guy I know. Very sad day.

[Lynn Allen]

Very sad, blue skies....

[CH2Tdriver]

http://archive-server.liveatc.net/kfrg/ ... -1730Z.mp3

Here is the audio via LIVEATC.net from KFRG Tower during the accident today. Skytyper 1 flight of 6, checks in at 13:40 in the audio and are all cleared for take off a few minutes later. Skytype 1 and 2 get airborne, but #3 aborts the take off with a misfiring engine. The remainder of the flight appears confused as to what to do, and the tower advises them to take off as they are blocking Runway 14. #4 then appears to start the take off roll, but then also aborts to follow #3, leaving #5 and #6 still sitting on the runway. Again the frustrated tower controller asks what the flights intentions are, but no one is communicating an answer to him.

Finally #5 and 6 decide to take off anyway. It is a fateful decision. Tower lets them depart to the north to join up with #1 and 2. By this time, Skytype 1 hears what is going on, and asks the tower if he can proceed inbound, fly over the runway and "pick up" his remaining flight or land to see what is going on. Tower advises #1 that #5 and 6 are actually airborne and when they all join up, then they can come back in. Skytype 1 agrees and there is some additional back and forth conversation. The crash is noticed by the tower at about 21:15 in the file, and they advise Skytype 1 who at the time was unaware. After he picks up #5 it is clear that #6 has gone down when he sees the smoke. They remain in formation, return to KFRG for the left break, but #1 elects to go to the crash site to help guide in the Republic ARFF equipment that was sent, while #2 and 5 land.

[Jesse C.]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/05/30/wo ... pilot.html

[CoastieJohn]

Would these pilots normally carry parachutes?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRGPHCfSFxQ

[Fouga23]

There is a lot of confusion going on there :/

[lmritger]

Very curious that #3 and #4 both aborted due to engine irregularities... does the 1340 have a tendency to foul the plugs if it idles too long?

Lynn

[Fearless Tower]

Very curious that #3 and #4 both aborted due to engine irregularities... does the 1340 have a tendency to foul the plugs if it idles too long?

Lynn

I believe only #3 had the issue. They were taking off in pairs, so if #3 aborted, #4 would have aborted with him.

1340s can foul plugs if idled for too long, but that would have been caught on runup. Plus, these guys are very experienced with T-6s and I doubt they would have let the engine idle that low for too long.

[Fearless Tower]

Would these pilots normally carry parachutes?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRGPHCfSFxQ

Yes, but a chute is not helpful if you spin it from low altitude.

[CoastieJohn]

Would these pilots normally carry parachutes?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRGPHCfSFxQ

Yes, but a chute is not helpful if you spin it from low altitude.

Thanks....I was curious if they might have carried one and the minimum altitude needed to successfully deploy a chute. At :50 in the vid you can hear an engine and the cell phone vid was started sometime after the plane had already started to spin downward. So we know the plane was higher than what we see in the vid. Was it high enough....I don't know. Definitely a tragedy though.