Non-warbird Plane Crash (intentional!) in Austin, TX

[RyanShort1]

I also note that two F-16's were dispatched from Colorado to Austin to fly CAP, just in case. (See? There's a warbird tie-in after all!)

They were from Houston. Actually, I was airborne at the time and got a rash of phone calls from some folks hoping I was ok since we cover most of the state. Very sad day. We've got several WIXers from there at GTU.

Ryan

[bluehawk15]

Ryan, what? The F-16's were from EFD, not Colorado? No, that can't be right, the news media reported Colorado, so that MUST be where they came from!!

I was wondering why they didn't come out of San Antonio or Houston. Now I know, they did come from Houston!

Local news reported, and CNN also had it on their site, that he had posted a manifesto on his (or a) website, but the FBI has since removed it.

[jtramo]

I hope AOPA is holding on line one at the CNN call center because I can't take this misinformation anymore. If one more Congressman gets on the air and talks about general aviation being dangerous to national security im gonna puke.

[corsair166b]

Well. if you want another Warbird tie in, my friend Bear used to work for the IRS in Austin, so I would assume that it was at this office (cannot confirm tho), he worked for the IRS for about 10 years or so before he and they parted ways about a year ago I believe....Bear is, by the way, the crew chief on the CAF's P-40 painted up in Tex Hill's colors...

Mark

[dred]

This allegedly is the full version of what the pilot had posted on some blog. Came across it on another site. Emphasis on the 'allegedly' part.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/image ... letter.pdf

The guy claims to have been caught up in the early 90's downsizing of the aerospace industry in So. Cal. The way it reads, hard to imagine he could afford to own a plane, but who knows?

[Bluedharma]

Here's a thought. Rather than relying upon the Mods to make the decision, why don't we as members place our posts under the appropriate category?
This one clearly belongs under general aviation.

Bluehawk. It's not my intent to single you out. Perhaps it's just me but, I seem to be seeing more and more where posts are made in the incorrect category.

When we come to the Warbirds section, we shouldn't - nor should the Mods - have to cull through non related posts.

Yes, they may be in the incorrect category.
But I really only look at the "WIX Hanger" most of the time. (That doesn't make it right, but that is what I do...)

And bluehawk15 is right in my opinion. This will have a big impact on what happens with warbirds.
People are already getting freaked out about security. Now we just need to wait for the media to over-react.

[Bluedharma]

Yeah, it sounds like this guy may have had many "demons" in his life.
Some reports say that his wife left him as well. Hard to say for sure...
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2010/0218102stack1.html

Sad to say the media will have a field day with this and make things tough for everyone in aviation.
http://www.oshkosh365.org/ok365_DiscussionBoardTopic.aspx?id=1235&boardid=147&forumid=175&topicid=3899

[RickH]

The F-16s are from the 138th out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Detachment 1 at Ellington. They took over the alert duty at Ellington when the hometown guys were BRACed to Predators. I walked out of the house about the time the two alert birds were on final to Ellington on the return from Austin.

The guy didn't take off from Waco, he came out of Georgetown . I can hardly wait for the new security measures they will put in place to protect us from ourselves .

[JDK]

Not good in any direction. Unfortunately it's making headline news here in Australia and in the UK.

Sad to say the media will have a field day with this and make things tough for everyone in aviation.

Just to be picky, the media won't make it hard for anyone - it'll be the Feds of whatever flavour offering noisy but inefficient extra security measures.

There's plenty to blame the media about, but making or changing the rules isn't it, however much they may influence the public and political animals.

(Speaking as a tiny media cog aware of the limits of influence.)

I can hardly wait for the new security measures they will put in place to protect us from ourselves .

To misquote Wellington, "I don't know about the enemy but our 'security' sure worries me."

[bluehawk15]

I haven't checked the link above to what the guy wrote on a website. Our local news reported about 1:30pm that he had posted a manifesto on a website, and they had a link to it on their site, but that the FBI was expected to take it down soon. The newscaster then said, what's that? Oh, it's already been removed. Perhaps CNN captured it and posted the text on their site, not just a link? I can't wait to look.

This is already having an impact on warbirds. I had our Kate scheduled to fly to Georgetown Saturday as they are having an EAA Young Eagles Day. They had asked if we could send something over. Now, given the real possibility that Feds will be all over the field, investigating the crazy guy, and that people might be on edge and freak out when they see a low flying plane with a "bomb" underneath it, my pilot has asked to be excused from the mission.

[bluehawk15]

The guy claims to have been caught up in the early 90's downsizing of the aerospace industry in So. Cal. The way it reads, hard to imagine he could afford to own a plane, but who knows?

That would explain why the only PA-28-236 registered to someone with that last name showed an address in CA. I guess he could afford the plane if it was already paid for, or maybe he was about to lose it in a divorce or IRS action.

Last edited by bluehawk15 on Fri Feb 19, 2010 1:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[airnutz]

they had a link to it on their site, but that the FBI was expected to take it down soon. The newscaster then said, what's that? Oh, it's already been removed. Perhaps CNN captured it and posted the text on their site, not just a link? I can't wait to look.

The website is gone Bluehawk, but the links above are Turner and Smoking Gun screengrabs
of his note before the site was shut down. They are still active.

[bluehawk15]

Thanks, airnutz! And thanks to CNN for doing the screen grab, so everyone can see that this was no normal pilot, but someone who's brain was in a tail-chase of sorts.

[gale_dono]

Well, this should make every pilot's year a nightmare, thank you IRS/TSA,

Rich

.....how exactly is this the IRS's fault? Guy was trying to hurt them; that's like blaming a woman for being raped.

[bluehawk15]

Just on the local news...officials were finally able to enter the building. They recovered the body of the pilot, and one unidentified man.