MarkWDavis
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
Posts: 104
Location: Syracuse, KS
|
 Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:32 am Post subject: Texas CJ crash (resend) |
 |
|
I had sent an e-mail to Mike DeCanio this morning asking him if he knew any details on Forrest "Flush" Johnson's accident. His reply follows. I'd like to emphasize his request not to start a critical thread of guessing what happened out of respect for Forrest and his family. Make your own assumptions and learn from them.
Mark Davis
N44YK
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the note. Yes, I know most of the details of the flight as I was -2. I have been struggling with the idea of posting or not. I don't want a posted tribute to Forrest turned into an accident discussion by guys who weren't there.
Mike Cavanaugh (in his Yak) and Forrest in his M-14 powered CJ (he has another Housai powered CJ) flew to my airport. Forrest had a GIB, Larry Cotton. We briefed a standard local formation flight. Initial rendevous, finger formation to the practice area, extended trail manuevering and then break-up and rendevous'. As briefed, Mike offered up the lead and Forrest took over. We repeated the previous order and returned to the field with Forrest in the lead and I as -2, Mike C as -3.
We were echelon left for a right break landing south. Forrest signaled 4 second break. He looked over to us smiled and broke. He may have descended a little in the break. As I rolled wings level I remember thinking he was a little tight and a little low. There was an overshooting crosswind. Lead was just off the perch as I began my landing checklist. I looked up just as his aircraft struck the ground nearly vertical. It hit very hard. I went around and Mike C. was right on the radio telling folks on the ground to dial 911. At least 2 of my neighbors saw the entire accident. They immediately went to the scene with a crash ax and a fire extinguisher. Personnel were on the crash sight within 1-2 minutes. A fire ensued. There was no rescue attempt as it was readily apparent there were no survivors.
The ground witnesses seem to feel that he was tight and in a big bank angle nearly all the way around. Reaching nearly 90 degrees AOB just prior to impact. I think we all have an idea what may have happened here.
Let's be respectful to the family members. They are desperate for answers and look to us as the experts. Let's save this accident investigation and discussion for the NTSB and the FAA.
Please be careful in the pattern. Keep an eye on your airspeed and go around if it gets uncomfortable.
Anybody who loved flying lost two friends yesterday.
MIke DeCanio
You may post this on the website.
[quote]
href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Yak-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Yak-List
href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com
href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/c
[b]
| | - The Matronics Yak-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:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Yak-List |
|
|
|
Get Email Distribution Too!
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
