Weird crash tonight at KVNY

We were scheduled to take off at midnight to go to KTEB. Beds all made, food being cooked in the galley etc. about 30 min prior to take off, the line guys come up the stairs to ask us if we knew the airport was closed? oh crap!!!!!!!!! wait a second, I check notams and should be good.

A Beech Duke went off the infield less than 100 yards from us, nose gear collapsed. Never heard a thing. We Jumped in a golf cart and flagged down apt police. He asked us if we saw anyone running across our ramp. No why? Because everyone disappeared, pilot and passengers.....just left the wreckage as is where is. After a few hours the pilot came back after he discovered he left his wallet in the plane. This was according to airport ops, don't know what the outcome was....busy wrangling passengers updating flight plans.....

Great, called the pax, told them to stay at home and await an update. 4 hour delay waiting for a crane to drag it off the runway and I'm pooped. But hey, at least I didn't ding my plane and beat feet. But then again, I still have an hour to go.

 

Thats it. They finally found a crane at 2Am, got the front gear to lock and then began to tow it off the runway......before it collapsed again. But at least it was off the active runway and we could depart. I talked to the airport ops guy who could not have been more nice about the situation. After the runway was clear, he had to spend about 30 minutes doing inspections with flood lights on both runways and all taxi ways, then a light check and finally pull off the runway closed 'X' signs. He then announced on tower freq that VNY was open and the NOTAM cancelled.