REFLECTOR: Short eyewitness account of the Titusville accident

[Scott Derrick]

Sounds like the V might have been on the wrong CTAF freq?

Scott


Jim Kanter wrote:
> A heartbreaking event. I found the following posting in the Van's Air
> Force forums <http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=27399&page=3>.
> 
> I wonder if we'll ever know what actually happened:
> 
> -----------
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> Well I was present during the entire affair, not a pretty sight. The
> two who passed on were very good and personal friends. May we all
> learn from this accident.
> 
> The weather was perfect a slight wind from 040 at about 2 to 3 knots,
> the wind wasn't even an issue. I had arrived about 0800 and was
> enjoying a breakfast at the EAA chapter. Soon the Gaggle from Spruce
> Creek was in sight mostly flights of 3 or 4 aircraft. After doing
> their overhead break to a downwind for 15. The first flight of 4
> arrived without incident, the second filight was about 1 to 2 minutes
> behind, did their overhead and proceded to land. This is where things
> went horribly wrong. The Velosity decided to do a straight in for 15
> and ignored the radio that a flight of 4 was landing. Upon seeing that
> there was an aircraft on the runway he vered to the left and let the
> aircraft take him where he didn't want to go.
> 
> Once over the grassy area between the runway and taxiway he hit the
> grond, not too sure what part of the airplane contacted first. He
> almost hit a V Tail parked in the grassy area but missed, again he hit
> the grass past the V Tail. At that time he went full power but too
> late the left wing dipped sharply and struck the RV-8 just as it was
> pasing the Bravo Taxiway and the main Taxiway. The impact sheered of
> the canopyand moved the RV-8 some 70 to 80 feet into the grassy area
> past the Bravo Taxiway. The velosity then cartwheled some 250 feet,
> still in the grass anf was already in a ball of fire.
> 
> The RV-8 at this time wasn't on fire, but burning parts of the
> Velosity were near. During the impact the engine was broken loose from
> the firewall and fuel was pouring into the grass. The burinig debris
> iginted the fuel and the rest is history.
> 
> I truly feel that Bill and Phil were already dead from the impact, for
> thru the fire I could see Phil's head laying back at a 90 degree angle
> to his body.
> 
> Truly a sad day for two very good aviators and friends.
> 
> -----------
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-
     As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In 
both instances, there is a twilight when everything remains seemingly 
unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all must be most aware of 
change in the air however slight lest we become unwitting victims of the 
darkness.

     William O. Douglas, Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court