Two Hospitalized Following Jet Trainer Mishap | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.13.24

Airborne-NextGen-05.14.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.15.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers-05.16.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.17.24

Fri, Apr 21, 2023

Two Hospitalized Following Jet Trainer Mishap

Downed Aircraft’s Pilot Affiliated with Darkstar Air Racing Team

On Wednesday, 19 April 2023, the pilot and passenger of a 1992 Aero Vodochody L-139—a high-performance jet trainer designed and produced in Czechoslovakia by Aero Vodochody—were transported to hospital after the light jet impacted and crashed through an unoccupied building near Bridgeport, Texas’s Bridgeport Municipal Airport (XBP).

Sergeant Josue “Tony” De La Cerda of Texas’s Department of Public Safety set forth that the aircraft departed Perot Field/Fort Worth Alliance (AFW) and was enroute to XBP when it went down—at approximately 18:45 CST—in the 1900 block of U.S. 380.

According to online flight tracking, the aircraft took-off from AFW at 18:21 CST and proceeded in the direction of XBP at a mean altitude and speed of 3,500-feet and 226-knots respectively.

As the L-139 neared XBP it climbed to 3,800-feet before descending rapidly—but within normal approach limits for an aircraft of its design—toward the airport. However, as the light-jet continued along the final-approach path to XBP’s active runway, it commenced a circling climb to 4,000-feet (XBP’s field elevation is 852-feet MSL) and accelerated from 122-knots to 247-knots. Whether or not the maneuver was a planned go-around remains unknown.

Flight tracking data shows the L-139 then began its final descent, coming to ground north of XBP.

The jet was piloted by Dianna Stanger, 62, of Washington, Texas. Ms. Stranger is an accomplished pilot and owner of the Darkstar air racing team—the website of which states she began flying in 1994. Regrettably, Ms. Stranger sustained critical injuries and was flown straight-away to Fort Worth’s John Peter Smith Hospital.

The L-139’s passenger, Thomas Charles, 58, of Niceville, Florida, sustained serious injuries and was transported by ground ambulance to Medical City-Denton.

The downed aircraft’s registration indicates it was owned by Veruca Salt LLC of Port Lavaca, Texas. Ms. Stranger is the company’s registered agent on file.

The Aero Vodochody L-139 is the world’s most widely-used jet trainer. In addition to serving as a capable basic and advanced jet training platform, the type has flown combat missions in the light-attack role. The aircraft defies NATO convention insomuch as it has never been ascribed a reporting name—such as the MiG-21 Fishbed, the Su-27 Flanker, and the ever-popular MiG-15 Fagot—by the organization.

The incident remains under investigation.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.16.24): Instrument Runway

Instrument Runway A runway equipped with electronic and visual navigation aids for which a precision or nonprecision approach procedure having straight-in landing minimums has been>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.16.24)

Aero Linx: Alaska Airmen's Association The Alaska Airmen's Association includes over 2,000 members—we are one of the largest General Aviation communities in the country. We s>[...]

Airborne 05.15.24: Ghost Sq MidAir, B-2 Junked, Dream Chaser Readies

Also: Flt School Security, G600 Steep-Approach, Honduran Aid, PW545D Cert Two aircraft performing at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show clipped wings during a routine last Sunday, spooki>[...]

Airborne 05.10.24: Icon Auction, Drunk MedEvac Pilot, Bell ALFA

Also: SkyReach Parts Support, Piper Service Ctr, Airliner Near-Miss, Airshow London The Judge overseeing Icon's convoluted Chapter 11 process has approved $9 million in Chapter 11 >[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.16.24: PRA Runway, Wag-Aero Sold, Young Eagles

Also: Paramotor Champ's, Electric Ultralight, ICON BK Update, Burt Rutan at Oshkosh! The Popular Rotorcraft Association is reaching out for help in rebuilding their private runway >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC