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czechsix(at)juno.com
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 Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:05 pm Post subject: TBM Avenger / RV-6 accident at OSH |
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Hey guys,
I'm reluctant to post this but feel like I need to share it in hopes it
never happens again. I was at OSH this morning (Sunday) and due to the
rain showers my 5-year old son Skyler and I decided to hang out at the
flightline for a while until the wx improved for our flight home. There
was a whole line of aircraft coming down the taxiway right in front of us
to depart OSH. I noticed a white RV-6 with blue striped trim waiting in
line a couple hundred feet from us, coming towards us, and right behind
him was a huge TBM Avenger. The thought passed through my mind that
somebody out working the flightline should be standing off to the side of
the TBM to give him signals for taxiing, since it was virtually
impossible for him to see the RV over his nose even with S-turns. My
thoughts were interrupted by the roar of jet engines as a couple L-39's
took off in formation followed by a couple Pitts Model 12's and other
interesting aircraft.
I looked back down the taxiway just in time to see the RV-6, now less
than a hundred feet from us, coming to a stop with the TBM still right
behind it. We watched in shock as the TBM continued right into the tail
of the RV. At that moment I was only thinking about how bad it would be
to have your tail chewed up by somebody's propeller, but that thought
turned to horror as the TBM continued to move, wacking through the
fuselage and sending strips of metal flying. When it got to the baggage
compartment, clothing and other gear was being strewn into the air and
across the grass. I should have closed my eyes before it got to the
cockpit. I'll spare you the details but suffice it to say it was
horrific. The prop on the TBM finally stopped somewhere in the vicinity
of the rollbar / panel but of course by that time it was too late....the
fire truck and other rescue personnel were there in moments by I knew
there was nothing they could do but pull out the white sheet and drape it
over the mess.
I don't know who the unfortunate RV pilot was (and by the way, I'm not
sure he was solo, but I think he was). Regardless, I've been feeling
physically ill all day and the scene just keeps replaying in my mind. It
seems like such a preventable accident....I know the poor guy in the
Avenger will get the blame (and I sure feel sorry for him too!) but it
was really a failure of the system when a spotter along side the TBM
would have prevented this tragic loss of life. Even though there's
probably nothing I could have done, I still feel sick about it, because I
noticed the situation and regret that I didn't at least try to point it
out to one of the busy flightline volunteers...
I hope the folks at EAA make it standard policy from now on to have
spotters available to help out any taildragger pilot who needs a second
set of eyes for taxiing. And it's a good reminder to be extra vigilant
not only at Oshkosh but at any airport to pay attention to who's behind
you. We're used to looking right/left/forward when moving about the
airport but if you're like me you don't worry too much about what's
behind you. Well, when we left OSH this afternoon in the -8A, there was
a T-6 behind us and I can guarantee you we were nervously checking our
six about every 10 seconds to make sure he wasn't getting too close.
My heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies go out to the family of
the unfortunate RV-6 pilot we lost today.
--Mark Navratil
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
RV-8A N2D with 70+ hours of cheating death so far...
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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bootless(at)earthlink.net
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:19 pm Post subject: TBM Avenger / RV-6 accident at OSH |
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Dear Mark,
What an incredibly difficult thing to witness and write about. Thank you
for keeping our safety in mind, and I share your condolences to all
involved in this very tragic accident.
best, Cory
do not archive
Mark E Navratil wrote:
| Quote: |
Hey guys,
I'm reluctant to post this but feel like I need to share it in hopes it
never happens again. I was at OSH this morning (Sunday) and due to the
rain showers my 5-year old son Skyler and I decided to hang out at the
flightline for a while until the wx improved for our flight home. There
was a whole line of aircraft coming down the taxiway right in front of us
to depart OSH. I noticed a white RV-6 with blue striped trim waiting in
line a couple hundred feet from us, coming towards us, and right behind
him was a huge TBM Avenger. The thought passed through my mind that
somebody out working the flightline should be standing off to the side of
the TBM to give him signals for taxiing, since it was virtually
impossible for him to see the RV over his nose even with S-turns. My
thoughts were interrupted by the roar of jet engines as a couple L-39's
took off in formation followed by a couple Pitts Model 12's and other
interesting aircraft.
I looked back down the taxiway just in time to see the RV-6, now less
than a hundred feet from us, coming to a stop with the TBM still right
behind it. We watched in shock as the TBM continued right into the tail
of the RV. At that moment I was only thinking about how bad it would be
to have your tail chewed up by somebody's propeller, but that thought
turned to horror as the TBM continued to move, wacking through the
fuselage and sending strips of metal flying. When it got to the baggage
compartment, clothing and other gear was being strewn into the air and
across the grass. I should have closed my eyes before it got to the
cockpit. I'll spare you the details but suffice it to say it was
horrific. The prop on the TBM finally stopped somewhere in the vicinity
of the rollbar / panel but of course by that time it was too late....the
fire truck and other rescue personnel were there in moments by I knew
there was nothing they could do but pull out the white sheet and drape it
over the mess.
I don't know who the unfortunate RV pilot was (and by the way, I'm not
sure he was solo, but I think he was). Regardless, I've been feeling
physically ill all day and the scene just keeps replaying in my mind. It
seems like such a preventable accident....I know the poor guy in the
Avenger will get the blame (and I sure feel sorry for him too!) but it
was really a failure of the system when a spotter along side the TBM
would have prevented this tragic loss of life. Even though there's
probably nothing I could have done, I still feel sick about it, because I
noticed the situation and regret that I didn't at least try to point it
out to one of the busy flightline volunteers...
I hope the folks at EAA make it standard policy from now on to have
spotters available to help out any taildragger pilot who needs a second
set of eyes for taxiing. And it's a good reminder to be extra vigilant
not only at Oshkosh but at any airport to pay attention to who's behind
you. We're used to looking right/left/forward when moving about the
airport but if you're like me you don't worry too much about what's
behind you. Well, when we left OSH this afternoon in the -8A, there was
a T-6 behind us and I can guarantee you we were nervously checking our
six about every 10 seconds to make sure he wasn't getting too close.
My heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies go out to the family of
the unfortunate RV-6 pilot we lost today.
--Mark Navratil
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
RV-8A N2D with 70+ hours of cheating death so far...
|
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jsflyrv(at)verizon.net
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:39 pm Post subject: TBM Avenger / RV-6 accident at OSH |
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Mark E Navratil wrote:
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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mitch(at)skybound.com
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czechsix(at)juno.com
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 6:19 am Post subject: TBM Avenger / RV-6 accident at OSH |
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Ok, I see the news story that the pax was killed and the pilot survived. I hate spreading misinformation so I apologize for not getting the facts straight....I'm also amazed that anyone in that cockpit could have survived the accident! We were watching from the passenger's side of the RV at a slight angle when it happened, after the loud noises stopped the prop was in the cockpit area and the canopy was gone....and I couldn't see anybody at all in the cockpit. We watched for a few minutes and I didn't see anybody get out. When the rescue crew arrived, they took a look inside and then backed everybody away and appeared to be covering it up with white sheets when we left the scene (remember I had a 5 year old with me so we didn't stick around for a long time...). So what I saw seemed to confirm that there was no possibility of survivors.
Anyway, very glad the pilot miraculously escaped and next time I'll check the news before posting something of serious nature like this...
--Mark Navratil
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
RV-8A N2D
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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aerobubba(at)earthlink.ne
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 4:09 am Post subject: TBM Avenger / RV-6 accident at OSH |
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Hi Mark-
| Quote: | I hate spreading misinformation so I apologize for not getting the fact
s straight...
|
It seems to me that the things you reported as fact were correct, and your
interpretation of the events as entirely reasonable. Thank you for sharing
your observations as clearly and factually as you did. You have done the
rest of us a service while reporting on what must have been a gut wrenching
experience.
I hope the unfortunate events of the day don't have a lasting negative
impact upon either you, your son, or the passion that we all share.
glen matejcek
aerobubba(at)earthlink.net
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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ddcuster(at)wmv-co.us
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 4:32 pm Post subject: TBM Avenger / RV-6 accident at OSH |
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Amen!
Well said.
I for one agree with glen that your reporting was excellent and reasonable.
And that you did the list a real service.
I pray that you and your son have no lasting ill effects from witnessing
this tragedy and that the short term effects will indeed be short term.
Doc Custer
---
| | - The Matronics RV-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
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