One of the jewels in
CAF's amazing collection of aeronautical treasures has had a
landing accident after a weather diversion.
CAF's statement on the incident, just issued, is
included below...
A Commemorative Air Force (CAF) operated single-engine World War
II Bell P-39Q Airacobra, N6968 (first photo below, by Bill Crump)
was involved in an incident Monday, April 18, 2005, at the
Fredericksburg Airport in Fredericksburg, Texas. The aircraft,
which was being flown by a CAF pilot, was en route to San Marcos,
Texas, from Holloman Air Force Base via a fuel stop in Midland,
Texas, at CAF Headquarters.
After leaving Midland International Airport, weather
deteriorated en route and the pilot diverted to Fredericksburg.
Upon landing the airplane left the runway and rolled into a fence
resulting in minor damage to the prop and leading edge of a wing.
The P-39 has been secured in a hangar.
The airplane is
assigned to the Central Texas Wing of the CAF, which is based in
San Marcos, Texas. The smallest fighter of the war, the P-39 was
the first to be built with a tricycle landing gear. The CAF
acquired the P-39 in 1974. For many years the airplane was flown
with Russian markings, however it currently appears in the markings
and colors of the 350th Fighter Group, which consisted of the
345th, 346th and 347th Fighter Squadrons that flew in North Africa
and Italy.
The CAF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to flying and
restoring World War II aircraft. Based in Midland, Texas, the
organization has over 9,500 members and operates a fleet of over
150 World War II aircraft.
Initial FAA Accident Report
** Report created 4/20/2005 Record 6 **
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 6968 Make/Model: P39 Description: P-39
Airacobra
Date: 04/18/2005 Time:
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing:
N
Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
City: FREDERICKSBURG State: TX Country: US
DESCRIPTION
ACFT RAN OFF THE RWY AND HIT A FENCE. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND
NO INJURIES IS REPORTED. OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN.
FREDERICKSBURG, TX
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: NOT REPORTED
OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase: Unknown Operation: General
Aviation
Departed: MIDLAND, TX MAF Dep Date: 04/18/2005 Dep.
Time:
Destination: SAN MARCOS, TX HYI Flt Plan: NONE Wx Briefing:
Y
Last Radio Cont: UNKN Last Clearance: NONE
FAA FSDO: SAN ANTONIO, TX (SW17) Entry date: 04/20/2005