Collings Foundation B-17 "Nine-0-Nine" Crashes

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by dynaflow, Oct 2, 2019.

  1. dynaflow

    dynaflow shiftless...

  2. bw1339

    bw1339 Well-Known Member

    Five dead too.
     
  3. John Codman

    John Codman Platinum Level Contributor

    Damn! I haven't flown on that airplane, but I have been inside it. Sad. Sorry for those injured and killed.
     
  4. Dr. Roger

    Dr. Roger Stock enthusiast

    Yeah, been in it a few times myself. It's a shame. At least it wasn't a B24, only two of those left flying (out of 18,000 produced).
     
  5. johnriv67

    johnriv67 Well-Known Member

    That’s real close to home for me
     
  6. dynaflow

    dynaflow shiftless...

    ...7 dead now with 3 critical. Pilot radioed problem w/#4. That shouldn't have brought it down. Observer said not lined up with runway. Not much left for NTSB. Having been in, rode in, and flown (15 min) Nine-0-Nine, what should have been a lifelong memorable experience is instead a horrific tragedy for everyone connected with flight...
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2019
  7. steve covington

    steve covington Well-Known Member

    Back in 77, I live about 3/4 mile from there, on Old County Road. This country boy could never could adjust to all the air traffic... Directly inline with one runway...
     
  8. rjm

    rjm Well-Known Member

    Sad day, lose of life and lose of a vintage airplane.
     
  9. Topcat

    Topcat Got TORQUE?

    So sad...... Aluminum Overcast was just here 2 miles from my house at the local airport.....such a beautiful aircraft despite what it was designed for......

    Peace WildBill 20190820_142005.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

  10. BUICKRAT

    BUICKRAT Got any treats?

    Steve, was that Old County Rd in East Granby?

    I grew up there, used to love watching the Thunderbirds doing their stuff.
     
  11. Brian Albrecht

    Brian Albrecht Classic Reflections

  12. John Codman

    John Codman Platinum Level Contributor

    I have flown in the EAA's B-17. It was an experience that I'll never forget. What puzzles me is that as was said in an earlier post, the loss of one engine should not have been an insurmountable problem. The B-17 - perhaps more then any other WW 2 aircraft was known for it's ability to sustain serious battle damage and still get it's crews home. I have heard of '17s getting 250 miles to home base with two engines shot out. There is more to this crash then just a single engine failure.
     
    kent.gardner likes this.
  13. Topcat

    Topcat Got TORQUE?

    I thinks someone in the tower may have aligned them with the wrong runway or other wrong info.....those things could survive a belly landing.......pilot could have done that...unless they were vectored in wrong.....he hit a building...surely he would have missed that if he was ditching it on what he saw...unless he was being directed in by the tower........hearing the radio traffic could be telling.....plus....losing a motor will NOT bring a B-17 down....especially with no bomb load.....

    Peace WildBill
     
  14. Duane

    Duane Member

    I flew on a B-17 Years ago. It was the Yankee Lady and when I heard one of these went down I was wondering if it was the plane I was on. It's so sad to see this type of thing happen. My ride was only about 30 minutes but I will remember it forever, and have a much better understanding and regard for the men that flew them.
    Duane
     
    Mike Sobotka likes this.
  15. PatricksBuick

    PatricksBuick PatrickBuick

    Sad indeed. Not many old aircraft left that are able/certified to fly tourists around. A couple of months ago Lufthansa abandonned its project of getting a Connie back into the air. Apparently the costs skyrocketed to comply with all kinds a safety regulations.....

    And earlier this year a DC3 crashed in the Swiss Alps.... oh well...

    I agree with above posts, 1 engine out in a barely loaded B17 shouldn't make her crash.
     
  16. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

  17. dynaflow

    dynaflow shiftless...

    ...no, Yankee Lady belongs to a MI-based group and still flying. Nine-O-Nine belonged to MA-based Collings Foundation. This was their 30th annual "Wings of Freedom" tour. Tours start in spring from winter maintenance facility in FL, circle country clockwise, winding up back in FL. I always felt lucky being on east coast to see them during fall color. Most memorable flight was in second seat over colorful rural Frederick County MD in '98...
     
  18. BadBrad

    BadBrad Got 4-speed?

    A few pics from my 2004 trip. This airframe was saved by a firefighter friend of mine back in the early '60s when it was the Yucca Lady out at the Nevada test site. He didn't have the heart to burn it down just for firefighter training.




    upload_2019-10-4_18-28-52.png
    upload_2019-10-4_18-27-44.png

    [​IMG] upload_2019-10-4_18-26-50.png
     

    Attached Files:

    dynaflow and johnriv67 like this.
  19. John Codman

    John Codman Platinum Level Contributor

    I'm not saying that was the case here, but typically the controller's response when an airplane declares an emergency is "cleared to land any runway." The controller then does everything possible to get all other aircraft out of the way of the emergency airplane; takeoff and landing clearances are cancelled, except possibly for an aircraft on short final approach or in position for departure (depending on how far out the declared emergency aircraft is). The clearance for a departing aircraft would be something like "cleared for immediate departure (and that means now) or clear the runway" . An airplane with a declared emergency has priority over everybody else. Unless the reason for the emergency is obvious - such as the controllers seeing an engine smoking or with the propeller stopped - the flight crew of the emergency airplane will have some FAA forms to fill out.
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2019
  20. Mister T

    Mister T Just truckin' around

    I rode in Aluminum Overcast a few years ago when it was in Gimli, MB. An unforgettable experience. I bought the commemorative jacket, which the crew only sells to those who take the flight. IMG_4224.JPG

    So sad to see the loss of life from 909 crashing.
     

Share This Page