Plane Bound For AirVenture Suffers Engine Failure
They are pilots, and
friends... and meant to meet up on the grounds of EAA's AirVenture.
Instead, their paths neary crossed in the middle of
Wisconsin's Highway 41 Sunday.
Bill Leff, of Dayton, OH, told the Fond du Lac Reporter the
engine in his 1951 North American T-6 Texan failed while he was
heading toward the airport, meaning an emergency landing was a
necessity.
"For awhile the engine continued to run but eventually stopped
running entirely," said Leff, "and I realized I wasn't going to
make it (to the airport)."
Leff looked towards Wisconsin's Highway 41 -- a heavily traveled
four lane highway, and the road often used by those bound for
AirVenture from Milwaukee and Chicago.
Ironically, a tire had blown on his friend David Mann's motor
home, and it was sitting on the side of Highway 41... where two
Wisconsin State Patrol cars were guiding traffic around it.
"I was concerned that there was not going to be enough space (to
land)," said Leff, "but when things happen like that you don't have
time to be scared or to worry."
With the plane landing behind the motor home, it bounced and
cleared the 32-foot vehicle, coming within eight feet of his
friend's head.
"I saw it just when it was to the back of the motor home and I
yelled something unprintable and by then it was above my head,"
Mann recalled.
"I have been a pilot for over 40 years and this was the closest
I have ever been to an aircraft in flight that I was not
flying."
Following the excitement, Mann learned the pilot was a friend
that he's flown with to several air shows over the years.
Leff said he's grateful he and his 19-year-old son landed
safely.
"I was able to pick a spot in between (the vehicles) and I was
careful, and the drivers down there were alert," Leff said.
The T-6's engine will be
repaired, said Leff. The plane's right wing was also dented when it
clipped a bridge marker post.
A 44-year veteran pilot, Leff has flown the T-6 Texan for 32 of
those years. He had planned to fly the Texan in Monday's air
show.
EAA Chairman Tom Poberezny spoke to reporters Monday about
airplane safety at AirVenture.
"We do everything possible in terms of the procedures, the
process, the education, and the communications," he said. "When you
deal with masses of people like we have here, there's always that
opportunity for error."
"When you look at the magnitude of the operation and the
percentage of incidents or accidents, ours are extremely low."
In regard to Sunday's incident, Poberezny said Leff did an
amazing job.
"My hat is off to Bill. He did exactly what he had to do to be
safe, minimize the damage to himself and equipment and to the
people on the ground."