A taildragger incident today

I experienced a bit of unneeded excitement today while preparing to fly
home that I thought would be of interest here.

A 2,500 foot November grey ceiling hung over the uncontrolled western NY
airport as I unloaded my luggage from the rental vehicle parked next to my
aircraft on the ramp. Suddenly a golf cart screeched to a halt in front of
my airplane.

The cart's driver, a local flight instructor, yelled my name as he pointed
to the opposite end of the long runway.

"Look! Did you see that?" he asked me in a somewhat shaky voice.

I instantly followed his pointed finger and focused to the far end of the
airport. There, on the first third of the far runway, was a high wing,
single-engine aircraft that appeared to be sticking nose first into the
runway.

"Let's take your truck!" he yelled to me as he ran to the passenger side.

I haphazardly slammed my luggage door closed and hopped into the Ford
Explorer. As we sped down the parallel taxiway, the instructor used his
cell phone to call back to report the wreck to the airport office. He also
instructed the receptionist to use the radio to warn the airplane on final
for the opposite end of the same runway to go around. After he hung up, we
both remained quiet, silently contemplating the scene we were about to see.

As we arrived at the wreck, the pilot appeared from behind the upended
taildragger and it became apparent what happened. I parked the truck near
the airplane (but away from the tail) and both of us jumped out to check on
the pilot.

"I had landed and just touched the brake, and next thing I knew the
aircraft was on its nose," the 80 year-old pilot said as we approached him.
My heart went out to him at that moment as I could only imagine what he
must have been feeling.

"About time someone noticed," he then added. "I didn't think anyone was
coming."

Aviation fuel was leaking out of the right wing, splinters sprinkled the
runway from the shattered wooden prop, and a five-to-eight foot white
scrape marked the runway where the spinner had been pushed into the
asphalt.

Looking behind the aircraft on the runway surface, I spotted the twisted
gouges where each blade of the prop had struck the runway, as well as more
wood splinters. That sight reminded me of the wording of so many NTSB
accident reports.

By this time, another airport employee showed up in another golf cart with
a cellphone to his ear. He had been talking to the airport owner, who was
en route to the airport from somewhere off airport grounds. The airport
owner, who is also an FAA designated examiner, concluded that it was
prudent to move the aircraft since there were no injuries, fatalities, or
excessive aircraft damage and gave the approval to the airport employee.

With that, the four of us (including the pilot), carefully worked together
to lift the nose and lower the tail, righting the damaged aircraft. We
then pushed the sad bird along the runway to a nearby taxiway.

With the airport personal now handling the scene, I didn't see any more use
for my services so I took the truck back to the ramp and finished loading
my luggage. My heart suddenly began to beat much faster as the entire
scene replayed in my head.

At that moment the avionics tech at the airport walked by my aircraft and,
upon hearing the name of the accident pilot, told me that the pilot had
just purchased the used taildragger and was bringing it back to the airport
for the first time.

In all the excitement, I didn't have the opportunity to ask what type of
aircraft this was, but in looking at various pictures on the web tonight, I
*believe* the aircraft was a Stinson 108-3.

You pilots who have mastered these light taildraggers have my sincerest
respect.

--
Peter

told me that the pilot had just purchased the used taildragger and was bringing it back to the airport for the first time.

That's so sad... the poor man finally bought the bird of his dreams
and... My heart goes out to him.

"I had landed and just touched the brake, and next thing I knew the
aircraft was on its nose," the 80 year-old pilot said as we approached
him.

A sad story, Peter. Thanks for sharing it.

At the other end of the spectrum, the last few days we've had a couple
staying with us at the inn who just bought a brand, spanking new Maule.
They are well past 70, and we've had a great time hangar flying with them.

When their visit with us was over, we bid them adieu and drove them over to
the airport. 15 minutes after we dropped them off the old fella called us
back to come fetch them.

He had discovered that, after our recent 4-inch snowfall and subsequent icy
conditions, he was unable to walk out to his tail-dragger without falling.
This provided a sudden burst of realization that if he couldn't walk to his
taildragger because of the conditions, he probably shouldn't be flying it,
either.

That's a prudent way to fly a tail-dragger, IMHO. The man knew his
limitations, and thus they were forced to spend another night soaking in the
Red Baron Suite's hot tub.

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Peter R. wrote:

In all the excitement, I didn't have the opportunity to ask what type of
aircraft this was, but in looking at various pictures on the web tonight, I
*believe* the aircraft was a Stinson 108-3.

You pilots who have mastered these light taildraggers have my sincerest
respect.

*I* wouldn't classify a Stationwagon as a "light taildragger"...

"Peter R." wrote:
[snip story]
You pilots who have mastered these light taildraggers
have my sincerest respect.

Taildragger pilots have my sincere respect, too ...
From what I've heard, the biggest mistake one can make is to believe
they've "mastered" it.

Hmm.... Hotel Californ... er Iowa City??? You can fly in, but you may never
leave!
Jim

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:JcZjf.588903$x96.563731@attbi_s72...
"I had landed and just touched the brake, and next thing I knew the
aircraft was on its nose," the 80 year-old pilot said as we approached
him.

A sad story, Peter. Thanks for sharing it.

At the other end of the spectrum, the last few days we've had a couple
staying with us at the inn who just bought a brand, spanking new Maule.
They are well past 70, and we've had a great time hangar flying with them.

When their visit with us was over, we bid them adieu and drove them over
to
the airport. 15 minutes after we dropped them off the old fella called us
back to come fetch them.

He had discovered that, after our recent 4-inch snowfall and subsequent
icy
conditions, he was unable to walk out to his tail-dragger without falling.
This provided a sudden burst of realization that if he couldn't walk to
his
taildragger because of the conditions, he probably shouldn't be flying it,
either.

That's a prudent way to fly a tail-dragger, IMHO. The man knew his
limitations, and thus they were forced to spend another night soaking in
the
Red Baron Suite's hot tub.

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Darrel Toepfer wrote:

*I* wouldn't classify a Stationwagon as a "light taildragger"...

What is a Stationwagon?

--
Peter

"Darrel Toepfer" wrote in message
...
Peter R. wrote:

In all the excitement, I didn't have the opportunity to ask what type of
aircraft this was, but in looking at various pictures on the web
tonight, I
*believe* the aircraft was a Stinson 108-3.

You pilots who have mastered these light taildraggers have my sincerest
respect.

*I* wouldn't classify a Stationwagon as a "light taildragger"...

It is a light taildragger. Think B17, DC3, etc. as heavy. A 108 will get
tossed around at will by wind and turbulence.

"Jim Burns" wrote in message
...
Hmm.... Hotel Californ... er Iowa City??? You can fly in, but you may
never
leave!
Jim

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:JcZjf.588903$x96.563731@attbi_s72...
"I had landed and just touched the brake, and next thing I knew the
aircraft was on its nose," the 80 year-old pilot said as we approached
him.

A sad story, Peter. Thanks for sharing it.

At the other end of the spectrum, the last few days we've had a couple
staying with us at the inn who just bought a brand, spanking new Maule.
They are well past 70, and we've had a great time hangar flying with
them.

When their visit with us was over, we bid them adieu and drove them over
to
the airport. 15 minutes after we dropped them off the old fella called
us
back to come fetch them.

He had discovered that, after our recent 4-inch snowfall and subsequent
icy
conditions, he was unable to walk out to his tail-dragger without
falling.
This provided a sudden burst of realization that if he couldn't walk to
his
taildragger because of the conditions, he probably shouldn't be flying
it,
either.

That's a prudent way to fly a tail-dragger, IMHO. The man knew his
limitations, and thus they were forced to spend another night soaking in
the
Red Baron Suite's hot tub.

:-)
--


What a great business model, guy pulls up in his plane on a cold night, just
get out the hose and ice the sucker up so bad he has to stay another night!

----------------------------------
DW

Peter R. wrote:

What is a Stationwagon?

A type of Stinson.
http://homepage.mac.com/splons/sample1/

George Patterson
Coffee is only a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to
your slightly older self.