Warbird Information Exchange

Just got word that a C-60 departing CAF Airsho in Midland has gone down off field. Intial reports indicate that there was an engine failure. The crew is reportedly ok, but not real sure. Weather in the area has been unfavorable all day, with very little flying. The C-60 in question could be one of two, both CAF birds, N30N "Lady Lodestar," or N637C of the Mile High Wing. I judged both birds Friday and Saturday and the Mile High bird was is in rough shape.

More sad news. I hope all is ok with the crew members.

Eric

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The air resounds from the Rolls-Royce roar!
To an enemy the warning is dire: here only eagles soar,
and the last thing he'll see is a mirrored Spitfire!

Just got back from the airport and it was the C-60 of the Mile High Wing. The accident did not take place off field but rather right off the active runway. A friend who witnessed the accident said the plane was on takeoff roll when the aft engine failed. He said plane yawed hard to starboard, ripping the landing gear out from under her. The bird came to rest on her belly with the aft wing taking substantial fire damage. No one was seriously injured in the accident, not sure if there were any injuries. I think the EAA chapter I am involved with should take partial responsibility for the accident, we voted the C-60 the Ugliest Warbird on the field.

The C.A.F. again? Isn't that 2 or 3 crashes and incidents already this year? If it is, they really need to get their act together..

Chris

Chris,

According to the CAF's website, they own around 145 vintage aircraft, approximately 100 of which are flown on a regular basis.

You have implied that an annual attrition rate of 2-3% is abnormally high. I'm curious as to how you arrived at that conclusion, seeing that the rate of attrition due to accidents--both mechanical and pilot-oriented in nature--was much higher back when these aircraft were fresh off the production line.

I'm sure that not just the CAF but all warbird operators would be quite interested in hearing your ideas on how to reduce the number of operational accidents. Perhaps you could share them on this website, since several owner/operators frequent this board as both posters and lurkers.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Guys, lets not start speculating what may or may not have caused todays accident. It's way to early for that, and we have professionals skilled in investigation to do that.

That being said, I'm very happy to hear no one was seriously hurt and wish a speedy recovery to anyone who may have been injured.

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Dan Johnson

Very glad that everyone was "OK" I hope that no real injury was involved. And yes, Human life can't be replaced and an aircraft can be rebuilt (sometimes). 10 out of 10 times I'd take the crew coming away from the crash. I still remember all to well the pilots we lost in the Navy. Brakes my heart some of them.

I believe we all have a set time to leave this earth, are you ready for what is beyond?

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www.tailhookstudio.com

Ok:

In response to an earlier question:



We've all got opinions, and I really don't want to share mine. However, in an objective sense: You are right many planes have problems from time to time. However, if I'm not mistaken there is a repeating pattern of engine faliures and pilot error w/ the CAF within the last 1 1/2 yr.. Examples:

He-111, C-60, FM2, and P-51C. There's got to be an underlying reason for it.

Chris

I was there and saw the whole incident from start to finish. All five crew members escaped with only seconds to spare before the plane burned. They are very lucky since the crash was so dramatic. The fire crew was on the scene in less than 45 seconds. They were great! The engine did not fail, but lets let the FAA do their investigation.

As far as the CAF goes, if anyone here thinks they can go out and buy 140 airplanes, get hundreds of pilots, and manage them around the US, go ahead and try.

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Live to fly, Fly to live.....

OK, I just saw the 10:00 evening news here and Bob Rice of the CAF has publicly stated that the Loadstar lost directional control on take-off.

This is what I observed personally and know to be true.

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Live to fly, Fly to live.....

Glad to hear the crew got out alright. I'm not going to speculate about anything until I hear exactly what happened, however.

There is an article regarding this incident online here:

http://www.mywesttexas.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13062458&BRD=2288&PAG=461&dept_id=475626&rfi=6

Glad to hear that everyone got out ok...

M

Seems to me, you spend a lot of time 'sharing' your opinions. To reiterate what's been said many times and in many ways.....until the official report is published, nobody knows what the true cause of an accident might be. Therefore, it's best not to speculate.

From experience, I can tell you that the speculation helps no one and ultimately, hurts the people involved with a given incident/accident - and their family and friends.

So....as someone who's been there.....please keep your 'opinions' about causes of various accidents to yourself and let the facts tell the story.

And if I've offended anyone......it probably won't be the first time or the last!

I would like to carefully reply - not wanting to offend anyone.

When you look at these crashes it is very tempting to say, "what needs to be done diffrently" or, heaven forbid someone somewhere says "they should be grounded". My brother recently came home from Afghanistan - he is a Special Forces mechanic, and according to him there are a lot of "accidents" that happen due to a myriad of reasons: flying conditions, equipment failure, pilot error, wind, dust, dirty windscreen - BUT these pilots are doing thier best to fly at 100% all the time. Having met and worked a little with CAF members these guys and gals are no different - they of all people know they are responsible for "Living History" and treat each aircraft as such. Tragedy about the Lodestar? Yes, but no one was killed or seriously hurt and I guarantee no one feels worse about the whole deal than the flight crew.

I hate to see the finger pointed before the review and determination has been made.

Tom P
Historic Wendover Airfield Museum

Here is the Unofficial/Official Preliminary Accident Report as posted on the list from the weekend

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 6371C Make/Model: L18 Description: L-18 Lodestar (C-56/57/59/60, R5O, XR5O)
Date: 10/03/2004 Time: 2124

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

LOCATION
City: MIDLAND State: TX Country: US

DESCRIPTION
"ACFT, DURING DEPARTURE AT MIDLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON RWY 34L, LEFT
THE RWY AND LANDED JUST WEST OF THE RWY FACING SOUTH. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY
THE ACFT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE ACFT IS REPORTED DESTROYED AND NO
INJURIES. MIDLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, TX"



INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 3 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: 2053Z 13007KT 10TS OVC026 19/17 A31021 RMK A02 LTGDSNT



OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase: Take-off Operation: General Aviation

Departed: MIDLAND, TX Dep Date: 10/03/2004 Dep. Time: 2124
Destination: BOULDER, CO 1V5 Flt Plan: VFR Wx Briefing: Y
Last Radio Cont: ON DEPARTURE
Last Clearance: CLRD FOR TAKEOFF

FAA FSDO: LUBBOCK, TX (SW13) Entry date: 10/04/2004

This is one of 24 accidents from this weekend including a Stearman and a C-45/Beech-18, and not to mention the SU-29 in Santa-fe, NM
Luckily the weekend accidents are down to the twentys, for a while there were as much as 42 or so a weekend.

HERES MY FAVORITE:

ACFT, ON VFR FROM QUAD CITIES ON FINAL TO RWY 17 AT MARION ARPT, DRIFTED
EAST. ACFT CLIPPED OLD HANGERS, TOOK OFF LANDING GEAR, AND CRASHED INTO NEW
HANGERS TEARING OFF WINGS. ACFT IS REPORTED DESTROYED AND UNKNOWN INJURIES.
MARION, IA

they wrote the details of "NEW" and "OLD" hangars but the injuries are "UNKNOWN"

Lets KEEP THEM FLYING-SAFELY

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"Hindsight is usually 20% off!"