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Similar thing here a couple of years ago
and it was an absolute miracle nobody was even injured. WAR 1/2 scale Corsair in
the pattern making long sweeping turns to final meets Arrow on a straight in
approach. Again, miraculously, nobody was hurt and both planes made it to the
runway safely.
Now, who is at fault? The Corsair is in the
pattern but has no radio (he is carrying a handheld on board, but the batteries
are dead). The plane is painted in the WWII Marine gray camo (light gray
with white undersides) so he is practically invisible, and moving fast. He is
not squaring off the turns to base or final, one long sweeping turn (to aid
with poor visibility over the nose) downwind to the numbers. This is
not a violtaion of any FAR, as the pattern is a suggestion, not a regulation. He
can't see the Arrow on a straight-in long final (under his right wing,
classic example of why to square off turns to base and final).
The Arrow doesn't make any radio calls
and obviously figures nobody else is out there. Although the pattern is the
suggested approach procedure, there is no actual FAA reg that you must fly the
pattern when approaching to land.
The Arrow hit the vertical
stab/rudder of the Corsair with his left main gear and the Corsair's prop
cut the tire as it passed. Neither plane was even seriously damaged. One foot or
one split second could have resulted in total disaster for both pilots.
In the end, I believe the Corsair pilot was
found liable. I think it was the dead handheld that got him. Had he left it
on the ground or been listening, they might have hung the Arrow pilot
instead. As it was he knew he was flying with a dead radio (negligence).
Heads-up in the pattern and anywhere near an aiport. Mike C.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 5:17
PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Fw: double
landing
Can you spell "Close Call". Turboprop duster
squats on small Cessna 150 and prop chews top of cowl off - a few feet to back
and a less happy ending. Both pilots walked away.
Ed A
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