Thunder Mustang Crash
sven
Apparently yesterday afternoon (Saturday). Papa 51's Thunder Mustang
crashed 25 miles or so southwest of Boise, Idaho. Both Pilots were killed
on impact. Not Much is known of the accident as of yet, some reports lead
to a stall spin scenario.....
I will try to keep the group informed as information becomes available....
Nogoyer
I am writing an article about the double fatal crash of the Thunder Mustang
which occurred either May 31 or June 1. I need any eye witness account or any
information available. I would like to see you thoughts good or bad. Norm Goyer
Senior Editor Sport Pilot
Wanderer
Or, Norm could have been onboard to get his Eyewitness account of the
incident..........
Bill Lattimer wrote in message <35769a50...@news.skypoint.com>...
>On 31 May 1998 20:15:20 GMT, "sven" <sv...@micron.net> wrote:
>
>> I will try to keep the group informed as information becomes
available....
>>
>The only appropriate source of information are Papa 51, the FAA and
>the NTSB.
>
Bill Lattimer
As a journalist, what validity do "thoughts good or bad" have on
reporting this - specifically if you are writing the article without
talking with Papa 51 or waiting for the NTSB findings? I find this
troublesome from a journalistic integrity standpoint. Let's wait for
the FAA and NTSB to do their jobs before we speculate. Let's AVOID
the "John Denver Syndrome" which was not good for John and his family,
the sport or the industries that support it.
Dale Clarke was a superb pilot and was becoming a good friend. His
enthusiasm and pure joy at flying the Thunder made him a pleasure to
be around - and I'll miss him tremendously.
Report that.
Bill Lattimer
Sid Lloyd
On Wed, 03 Jun 1998 00:28:49 GMT, m...@skypoint.com (Bill Lattimer)
wrote:
AMEN! I cancelled my subscription to Sport Pilot several years ago
and haven't regretted it for a minute.
Sid Lloyd
Sid Lloyd
sidl@**NOSPAM**insync.net
http://www.insync.net/~sidl/hangar/index.htm
GlaStar, Airbike, '29 Fleet Model 2
JFBECKETT
I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to meet Dale Clarke at Sun 'n
Fun this year, and talk with him at some length about flying in general and the
Thunder Mustang specifically. I found him to be knowledgable, entertaining,
enthusiastic and a generally all around good guy to spend time with. I truly
wish I had gotten the chance to know him for longer and benefit from what he
had to offer. His business card still sits on my desk in the pile of those I
need to get back to in the coming months.
I'm sorry I didn't get to it sooner.
Having said all that, none of it will be likely to show up in an NTSB report.
Neither will any other personal memories, shared stories or snippets of the
life a man that clearly had an impact to some degree on those of us that read
this NG. Let's let Norm do what he does without throwing stones so quickly. I
get the feeling that he is trying to inject some personal feelings in a forum
that deserves them and can benefit from them. While it doesn't mean that
everything he has to say will be flattering and well recieved, that doesn't
mean it shouldn't be said.
In the mean time I will reflect on what little time I got to spend with Dale
and the Thunder Mustang this year. I consider myself lucky in that regard.
Jamie Beckett
Bill Lattimer
On 03 Jun 1998 02:51:59 GMT, jfbe...@aol.com (JFBECKETT) wrote:
>Having said all that, none of it will be likely to show up in an NTSB report.
>Neither will any other personal memories, shared stories or snippets of the
>life a man that clearly had an impact to some degree on those of us that read
>this NG. Let's let Norm do what he does without throwing stones so quickly. I
>get the feeling that he is trying to inject some personal feelings in a forum
>that deserves them and can benefit from them. While it doesn't mean that
>everything he has to say will be flattering and well recieved, that doesn't
>mean it shouldn't be said.
>
I have already shared my feelings about Dale in another thread that
parallel yours. My intent was not to shut down any emotions regarding
the event, but to try and forstall any random posting of half-baked
ideas, comments and perceptions.
>In the mean time I will reflect on what little time I got to spend with Dale
>and the Thunder Mustang this year. I consider myself lucky in that regard.
>
I couldn't agree more. I'll remember my time with Dale during my
first Thunder flight and at the Sun N Fun with great clarity.
Wes Grady
The following is a news release from the company:
It is with great sorrow we have to report that Papa 51
Corporation pilot, Dale Clarke, and his passenger, John
Whitney, were fatally injured when their aircraft, the
prototype Thunder Mustang, crashed on May 30th near the
town of Marsing, Idaho. The cause of the crash is under
investigation by the FAA and NTSB. Papa 51 Corp (aircraft
manufacturer) and Ryan Falconeer (engine manufacturer)
will assist in the investigation. The scaled down P-51
Mustang look-alike, was designed by Kitfox creator, Dan
Denny. Thunder Mustang test pilot, Dave Morss, issued this
statement: "I have been in contact with Dan Denny and
although the wreckage has been recovered at this time, no apparent or
obvious causes [for the accident] have been discovered".
The prototype had logged over 400 in the two years since it's
completion, 200 of those had been flown by Clarke. In a statement made
to the Boise- Idaho Press-Tribune, Dan Denny said of Clarke: "He had
flown a lot of airplanes..........He was an excellent, excellent pilot."
This was the same aircraft flown by Dave Morss at Reno in 1997 and was
favored by many to win the newly christened Sport Class racing event at
this year's Reno National Championship Air Races. A company spokesperson
states that a second aircraft is nearing completion and Papa 51
Corporation will remain in business.
Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the families and
friends of the victims.
Wes....
Mark Kallio
On Wed, 03 Jun 1998 08:18:40 -0400, Wes Grady <w...@mailzone.com>
wrote:
>The following is a news release from the company:
Wes,
I only wish to set the record straight here regarding the following
article, not demean your credibility or leave you or the others in
this group the impression that this was an official company press
release.
I wrote this article (edited by Webmaster Wayne Sagar) for our site in
an attempt to notify our visitors of the tragic loss of one of
aviations' finest. The information was gathered through the web and
various contacts within the racing fraternity. These contacts also
verified the story as being factually correct.
I apologize if you or others were led to believe this was anything
more than an honest effort at responsible journalism. Our practice of
leaving out tag lines (article written by......) on news related items
will be reviewed and possibly changed to avoid such confusion in the
future.
Regards,
Mark...........
Mark Kallio
Photojournalist/Feature Writer
All Aviation FlightLine OnLine
http://aafo.com
Nogoyer
I am afraid that many misunderstood my phrase Good or Bad. I was not referring
to the aircraft nor the pilot. I was referring to what folks had seen, what was
discovered at the c rash site and any other information. My son Robert,
Associate Editor of Flying Magazine flew with Dale and had nothing but great
things to say about the gentleman. But.....there was a reason for the accident
and the amount of publicity that this plane has received has been enormous. Now
when something happens are journalists supposed to make believe that it never
happened? I think that most readers of our magazine want to know as much as
possible. Those of you who have been following my series on accidents know that
I don't trash people or planes unless there is a documented problem. Unlike
many of you who love to write about many planes that you have never been in, I
have flown most of them and loved them all. I even loved Happy's Adventure
Amphibian. Any plane that gets me up into the air and back onto the ground in
one piece is a good airplane. Of course some are more fun to fly than others
but I love them all. Please wait until you read my article about the Mustang
and RV-8 crash before you start putting words in my mouth that I have never
said. Norm
Bill Lattimer
On 07 Jun 1998 00:12:59 GMT, nog...@aol.com (Nogoyer) wrote:
>I am afraid that many misunderstood my phrase Good or Bad. I was not referring
>to the aircraft nor the pilot. I was referring to what folks had seen, what was
>discovered at the c rash site and any other information.
>
So, to be clear - you are asking for speculation that was not reported
to the NTSB or any other hearsay evidence.
> My son Robert,
>Associate Editor of Flying Magazine flew with Dale and had nothing but great
>things to say about the gentleman. But.....there was a reason for the accident
>and the amount of publicity that this plane has received has been enormous. Now
>when something happens are journalists supposed to make believe that it never
>happened?
>
No, not at all. The accident is a fact. But the reality is that you
are trying to "scoop" the NTSB by reporting whatever you can. This
sells magazines, but hardly endears you to the industry - or to me.
There was a reason for the accident, and you are hardly likely to find
it by asking for opinions on an Internet forum. Is this typically how
you do your research? Have you called Papa 51 or the NTSB?
There are a number of "stages" to these types of events. The first is
grief - for Dale and his family, as well as the investor in the back
and his family. And maybe for those of us that knew Dale; I for one
was looking forward to many hours with Dale to complete my checkout
when I finished my Thunder. I remember his ready smile, his enthusiam
and his steady hand on the stick as he patiently guided me through my
first roll. I remember covering for BJ in the booth at Sun N Fun so
that he could critique Dale's routine saying "I can see Dale anytime".
I remember handing him a water bottle after a long, hot taxi for the
time to climb. I'm not done remembering, and you want to seek blame.
> I think that most readers of our magazine want to know as much as
>possible. Those of you who have been following my series on accidents know that
>I don't trash people or planes unless there is a documented problem.
>
And tell me - how do you expect to get information on a "documented
problem" on either Dale's piloting skills or issues with the Thunder
on a newsgroup? Dale held an Unlimited LOA; you're unlikely to find a
story there. If there is an issue with the Thunder, Papa 51 and the
NTSB will find it and report it - and Papa 51 will correct it and fly
again.
> Unlike
>many of you who love to write about many planes that you have never been in, I
>have flown most of them and loved them all. I even loved Happy's Adventure
>Amphibian. Any plane that gets me up into the air and back onto the ground in
>one piece is a good airplane. Of course some are more fun to fly than others
>but I love them all. Please wait until you read my article about the Mustang
>and RV-8 crash before you start putting words in my mouth that I have never
>said. Norm
>
I don't think anyone put any words in your mouth - not that I saw on
this thread. What I saw was yellow journalism at it's worst when you
look to a public forum for "dirt" to sell magazines. I've kept the
entire thread and intend to write a Letter to the Editor of the
magazine. I question your professionalism and, frankly, your ethics.
I'm sorry if this seems harsh - but I'm not feeling particularly
friendly to you based on your comments.