An aviator who has been well-known to the sport aviation industry, for many years, lost his life in the crash of a Warbird Adventures SNJ-6, N453WA, late Monday. Task Research's Jim Kern, responsible for a number of sport aircraft designs and kits such as the FEW Mustang replica and Silhouette, as well as kits for the DragonFly was killed in the crash that befell the aircraft only minutes after leaving nearby Kissimmee Gateway Airport.

For many years, Kern's TASK operation, first in Santa Paula (CA) and then in Springer (OK), produced everything from composite components for the Voyager aircraft, Lancair homebuilt and military helicopter projects to complete kits for flying ships such as the Silhouette and the Dragonfly (which TASK notes was the first epoxy prepreg kit on the market -- of which 100 were delivered). TASK also designed and built a number of inventive theme park vehicles for Universal Studios (for the "Earthquake," "Back to the Future," and "Miami Vice" rides).

Most recently, Jim was seen at the Quad-A convention where anti-erosion rotor blade components were being shown to a very interested crowd that was having big problems keeping blades in one piece in far off desert combat conditions. ANN's Jim Campbell met up with Jim (who had actually been his landlord for a hangar he used to have in Santa Paula, CA, MANY moons ago) and spent an enjoyable time catching up on TASK's most recent accomplishments... Less than 24 hours later, Kern would die in an SNJ while reportedly taking instruction in the airplane from Warbird Adventures' Jon Hedgecock (known to be a good stick and a fine SNJ driver).

Very little is known about the exact circumstances of the crash. Hedgecock and Kern left Kissimmee Airport late Monday, shortly after 1600, on an instructional flight and went down only a few minutes later. An initial FAA accident report is riddled with errors but that and some limited information from the site (which is remote and heavily forested) seems to indicate that SNJ went down in a steep nose-down attitude, clipped some treetops in the process, and struck the ground with considerable force. The accident was not deemed survivable by law enforcement personnel at the scene. Impact occurred near remote land in Lake Hamilton, FL, requiring emergency and rescue workers to bring in heavy equipment to clear a path to the accident. The accident was reported at 1630 local time, and was situated some two miles west of Fire Tower Road. One wing was seen to have separated from the aircraft but it is NOT known if that happened in flight or during collision with trees prior to impact.

North American N453WA (shown above) was a 1959 SNJ-6 registered to Warbird Adventures of Kissimmee, FL, carrying SN # 121-42823. It was powered by a P&W R1340 radial engine. Warbird Adventures is an active and highly regarded flight-seeing and flight-training operation that owns a number of SNJs, and a Bell 47 in full MASH Livery. The operation has an impeccable safety record and is located a short distance form the also-highly regarded Flying Tigers' Warbird Museum. While Warbird Adventures did experience some aircraft damage during the recent spate of hurricane activity, N453WA was not one of the aircraft involved. ANN offers its condolences and prayers for these fine aviators, their families, and their many friends. More info to follow. 

** Report created 5/10/2005 Record 3 **
IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 453WA Make/Model: SS2P Description: S-2 AG COMMANDER, THRUSH COMMANDER
 Date: 05/09/2005 Time: 2017
 Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
 Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
 City: BARTOW State: FL Country: US

DESCRIPTION
ACFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. THE TWO POB ARE REPORTED FATAL AND THE ACFT IS REPORTED DESTROYED. BARTOW, FL

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 2
 # Crew: 2 Fat: 2 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: METAR KBOW 091950Z VRB05KT 12SM FEW065 28/11 A3002
OTHER DATA
 Activity: Training Phase: Unknown Operation: General Aviation
 Departed: ISM Dep Date: 05/09/2005 Dep. Time: 2000
 Destination: ISM Flt Plan: NONE Wx Briefing: N
 Last Radio Cont: NONE  Last Clearance: VFR
 FAA FSDO: ORLANDO, FL (SO15) Entry date: 05/10/2005

FMI: www.warbirdadventures.com, www.taskresearch.com