Wed, Nov 02, 2011
Suffered A Broken Back On First Solo Flight
A Sussex County, DE, Councilman is recovering from back surgery
after his Aeros Trike went down on his first solo flight. He was
listed in serious condition at a Virginia Hospital following the
accident.
Official Sussex County Photograph
Vance Phillips (pictured) had called the ultralight
"his new toy" in a recent post on his Facebook page. The
49-year-old farmer from Laurel, VA told friends he was working
towards obtaining a sport pilot certificate, but that "survival is
first priority."
Delmarvanow.com reports that the accident occurred at a
private grass airstrip in central Virginia owned by Buffalo Ridge
Air Sports. A Virginia state trooper investigating the accident
said Phillips "came in too fast and steep" and was unable to
correct before landing. His instructor was watching from the ground
when the plane went down.
The FAA declared the Trike a total loss. A witness said that the
fabric wing was torn, there was extensive damage to the fuselage,
and the landing gear was twisted. Phillip's injuries were not
thought to be life-threatening.
In a statement on the Sussex County, DE, website, officials said
"Mr. Phillips’ condition has been upgraded from
‘serious’ to ‘fair’ as he continues to
receive treatment at the University of Virginia Medical Center in
Charlottesville, VA. Mr. Phillips sustained a shattered T12
vertebra as he attempted to land an experimental, hang glider-like
aircraft at a private airstrip in Amherst County, VA, on Sunday
evening, Oct. 30. The hard landing caused a compression injury to
his spine, though it did not sever the spinal column.
"The Councilman has undergone back surgery and does have limited
feeling and movement in his legs. Mr. Phillips’ doctors are
‘cautiously optimistic’ about his recovery, though it
will take time and rehabilitation to fully recover. Mr. Phillips
expects to remain in the hospital at least a week before returning
to Delaware, where he hopes to perform his rehabilitation close to
home. His family is with him in Virginia as he recovers."
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