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"Does anyone know about the Lancair 320 that had a electric failure/panel
fire and broke up on emergency landing at Scappose Oregon a couple of weeks
ago?"
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That was Manfred Alexander's plane. A couple
of days after the accident I talked with a pilot who was on the ground at
Scappoose and watched the whole thing. By the way this pilot, his name is
Scott, is also an A/P, knows Manfred quite well, and has logged several
hours as PIC in Manfred's 320. He was also the first person to reach
the plane after the accident. Local media reports, which said the landing
gear wouldn't extend because of an electrical failure so the pilot made a
belly landing, were mostly wrong; as usual. Here's what Scott told
me:
He had just landed when he saw Manfred getting
ready to take off and exchanged a few words with him on the radio. (For
those not familiar with SPB it's an uncontrolled field.) Within seconds
after liftoff Manfred had a complete electrical failure. He stayed in the
pattern to return for landing. He lowered the gear on downwind (we all
know the emergency extension system is very reliable and doesn't require
electrical power) and passed a much slower Cessna. Apparently the Cessna
didn't see Manfred and turned base and final inside of him. Manfred didn't
realize this (no radio) and didn't see the Cessna until it was on the runway and
Manfred was close to the flare. He attempted to side step to the
grass alongside the runway and hit very hard. His 320
bounced, banked steeply, and then a wingtip hit the
ground. By some miracle instead of cartwheeling the plane spun 180
degrees and slammed down flat and upright, completely breaking the
empannage just ahead of the horizontal stab. The plane then slide
across the grass and through a small ditch, coming out on the other side.
When it came to rest, still upright, the landing gear had been completely
wiped out and the firewall and engine mount were severely damaged with the
engine canted upwared at 30 to 40 degrees. Scott said the fuel line
had broken ahead of the firewall and the contents of the header tank were
running out when he got there. It must have been a day for miracles as
there was no fire. Scott and some others helped Manfred and his grandson
out of the plane. They were pretty shaken but not seriously injured.
It could have been an awful lot worse.
Tom Gourley
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