Just witnessed what no one in this section wants to see | FerrariChat
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Just witnessed what no one in this section wants to see

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by RWatters, Aug 20, 2011.

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  1. RWatters

    RWatters Formula 3

    Feb 21, 2006
    1,075
    Kansas
    #1 RWatters, Aug 20, 2011
    ...A crash. It happened at the Kansas City air-show.

    Bryan Jensen was doing a show in his Pitts bi-plane and, after a series of somersaults, went into a dive. Once in the dive the plane was rocking and moving around in a weird fashion (not straight down and smooth like every other time) and it was clear he was fighting for control of the plane. He fought for control the entire way into the ground nose-first.

    It was not the first aerobatic performance of the day but it was definitely my favorite. The plane was a serious powerhouse. I was recording the performance but was enjoying it so much that I put the camera down. Not even a minute later it happened.

    I'm honestly just.. I don't even know. It took 20 minutes for the shaking to go away. The show was cancelled almost immediately as everyone there knew the fate of Bryan on board. I can't even describe the amount of pain I feel for him, his crew, and anyone that knows him. Seeing the last moments of anyone is a terrible experience.

    May he RIP. My thoughts are with everyone involved in this right now.

    http://www.beastairshows.com/web/index.php

    http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-plane-crash-deadly-kansascityairshow-20110820,0,4646350.story
     
  2. future328driver

    future328driver Formula 3

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    Ken Thomas
    #2 future328driver, Aug 20, 2011
    Today's was a tough day for airshows. There was also a fatal accident involving the Red Arrows earlier today.
     
  3. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 donv, Aug 20, 2011
    I'm very sorry to hear about that.
     
  4. Dodici Cilindri

    Dodici Cilindri Formula Junior

    Feb 21, 2006
    548
    Great Plains
    #4 Dodici Cilindri, Aug 20, 2011
  5. RWatters

    RWatters Formula 3

    Feb 21, 2006
    1,075
    Kansas
    #5 RWatters, Aug 20, 2011
    A charter jet just crashed in Canada killing 12 people as well.

    Just not a good day for aviation.
     
  6. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

    Feb 22, 2003
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    #6 snj5, Aug 20, 2011
    O Spirit Whom the Father sent
    To spread abroad the firmament,
    O Wind of Heaven, by Thy might
    Save all who dare the eagle's flight,
    And keep them by Thy watchful care
    From every peril in the air!

    God bless and keep those and their families and beloved.
     
  7. RWatters

    RWatters Formula 3

    Feb 21, 2006
    1,075
    Kansas
    #7 RWatters, Aug 21, 2011
    Someone uploaded video footage of it to Youtube and it looks like the speed just never came back after he rolled out of the trick. It almost looks like he tried to pull out at one point but realized the air speed just wasn't there. I can't even imagine what was going through his head, and I don't know if I want to even if I tried.
     
  8. toggie

    toggie F1 World Champ
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    #8 toggie, Aug 21, 2011
    Sad.

    Person who posted the Kansas Air Show video says he hopes it helps the NTSB determine the cause of the crash.

    Video link is here:
    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLHjfMNwdYg[/ame]
     
  9. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
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    Tim Keseluk
    #9 2NA, Aug 21, 2011
    It looks like it took him a little too long to regain control after the Lomcevak. Maybe he became disoriented (I sure would have) and the stick slipped out of his hand just as he was pulling up.

    Very sad. :(
     
  10. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Apr 21, 2003
    15,111
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    #10 MarkPDX, Aug 21, 2011
    Bad week in general, it started on monday with a midair collision between a UAV and C-130 in Afghanistan. Luckily they were able to get it safely on the ground on two engines.
     
  11. LouB747

    LouB747 Formula 3

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    Huntington Beach, CA
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    Lou Boyer
    #11 LouB747, Aug 21, 2011
    That's really too bad. I hate to see this stuff. I do try and learn from it though. It looks like after the lomcevak the aircraft did a roll or two more than planned. And that cost him a few hundred feet he didn't have to give. On the downline the airplane stalled when he pulled back at low speed and the airplane rolled to the left. This aggressive pull at slow speed was probably due to the fact he realized his altitude loss due to the extra rotations. Unrecoverable from there at that altitude.

    Just my 2 cents.......
     
  12. Ney

    Ney F1 Veteran
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    #12 Ney, Aug 21, 2011
    Post lomcevak, aircraft entered an inverted spin. Pilot was able to right aircraft to regular spin, but did not have enough altitude to allow full recovery. Pull close to ground resulted in stall into ground. Sad end to a good performer.
     
  13. Jedi

    Jedi Moderator
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    #13 Jedi, Aug 21, 2011
    :(:(
     
  14. RacerX_GTO

    RacerX_GTO F1 World Champ
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    Nov 2, 2003
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    #14 RacerX_GTO, Aug 21, 2011
    What is going on??? This is beyond coincidence, circumstance & chance, I'm not superstitious, but there is a bad aura going on here

    wing-walker just bought the farm;
    http://news.yahoo.com/wingwalker-dies-fall-michigan-air-show-224041868.html
     
  15. RWatters

    RWatters Formula 3

    Feb 21, 2006
    1,075
    Kansas
    #15 RWatters, Aug 21, 2011
    What's really crazy is just about every trick he was performing involved putting the plane into a stall or staying right on the ragged edge of being in a stall. It's something he must've recovered from thousands (if not hundreds of thousands given his flight time) of times.

    Everyone went ahead and performed at the air show today. I heard they did a great fallen man tribute in the air while playing music on the ground. Everyone I knew that went said it was an extremely great way to show tribute to Bryan. Others that went who only saw it on the internet all said it really hit home when they saw the spot that he crashed (they placed flowers on it) and how close it was to the spectators. They said with how close it was in proximity to everyone how truly shocking and terrifying it must've been. They don't know how right they are.

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX2yzUYAKbs[/ame]

    This is the video I took of Bryan shortly before the tragedy occurred. It puts into perspective the types of tricks he was doing the entire time and why everyone was in such shock when it happened at first. Everyone thought it was business as usual on his way down. Please note that the accident is not in this video.
     
  16. saw1998

    saw1998 F1 Veteran

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    #16 saw1998, Aug 22, 2011
    I forgot about this forum.

    My stomach literally turned. I think you guys did a great job analyzing the possible reason for the crash. IIRC, in the lomcevak he did before the fateful one, there were two less rolls on the pull out. The lomcevak (Polish for crazy) is just that, although he was one great acrobatic pilot. Seeing this makes one count his blessings for those close call moments we've all had.
     
  17. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    #17 rob lay, Aug 22, 2011
    sorry you had to witness that. R.I.P.
     
  18. Stefan_009

    Stefan_009 Formula Junior

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    #18 Stefan_009, Aug 22, 2011
    +1

    I usually don't come to this forum because I'm just not interested in this sort of thing but after reading articles about all these accidents in this short time frame I had to see what people were saying here.

    The footage I've seen from 2 different accidents (wing walker - kansas city) is just horrible, I have so much sympathy for the families and spectators who had to witness that.

    I have to 100% agree with Racer X, something just isn't right.
     
  19. RWatters

    RWatters Formula 3

    Feb 21, 2006
    1,075
    Kansas
    #19 RWatters, Aug 22, 2011
    Unfortunately there's been even more this year.

    Franklin's Flying Circus had a crash earlier this year that took the life of Amanda Franklin. It looked to be a stall-related crash as well. I watched them perform in St. Joseph and it was quite an interesting show. The wing-walker that died on Sunday used to be a member of this team as well so they have suffered quite a bit this year. :(

    I've heard talk that in New Jersey recently two planes were practicing for a show and collided in mid-air. One pilot was able to parachute out, the other unfortunately perished.

    Not a crash, but Greg Poe perished this year as well after having a heart attack. I've seen him perform in Kansas City twice and he put one one hell of an event.

    Very sad stuff. :(
     
  20. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #20 donv, Aug 22, 2011
    No, Airshow flying is a dangerous business, that's all there is to it.

    And, August is the height of airshow season.

     
  21. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #21 TheMayor, Aug 22, 2011
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2011
  22. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

    Dec 11, 2006
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    #22 velocetwo, Aug 23, 2011
    Wow that is sad ... it happens fast.

    Reminds me of when my dad took me to the drag boat races as a kid. About 10 runs in a guy flips, bails out w parachute, it tangles on the sinking boat and down they went. Never saw another boat race since.
     

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