Plane Clipped Powerlines On Takeoff
ANN REALTIME UPDATE
05.24.06 1730EDT: ANN has received more information regarding the
Tuesday night plane crash that injured South Carolina
Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer and his passenger, John M.
Leohardt. The Mooney M20E Bauer was piloting clipped trees
following takeoff from a small private airstrip in Blackburg,
SC.
WIS-TV 10 in Columbia, SC reports Bauer, 37, was to undergo an
MRI Wednesday, in anticipation of surgery to repair his shattered
left heel. He is otherwise listed in good condition.
Leohardt, however, is listed in serious condition, and the
extent of his injuries have not been reported.
WIS reports that Bauer bought the Mooney from Leonhardt three
years ago. The plane recently had a new engine installed.
ORIGINAL REPORT
The lieutenant governor of South Carolina, Andre Bauer, and a
passenger escaped serious injury Tuesday when their Mooney M20E
(file photo of type, center) went down shortly after takeoff, and
caught fire.
The accident happened Tuesday evening, just after the plane took
off from a private dirt airstrip near Blackburg, SC and
apparently clipped powerlines. A nearby resident saw the accident,
and found Bauer, 37, crawling away from the airplane.
Jeremy Elliot then helped pull John M. Leohardt, 70, away from
the wreckage -- and not a moment too soon, from the sound of
it.
"As soon as we got him out of the plane, about a minute later,
it just exploded," Elliot told reporters.
The Associated Press reports Bauer suffered injuries to his arm
and leg. Leohardt's wife, Azalia, said her husband was also
slightly injured in the accident.
"The plane had problems taking off," she said, adding her
husband often flew with Bauer, who was the pilot.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating the accident.
** Report created 5/24/2006 Record
5
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IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 3217F
Make/Model: MO20 Description: M20,
M20A/B/C/D/E/F/G/J/L/R/S, M20K/M (T
Date: 05/23/2006 Time: 2226
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury:
None Mid Air: N Missing:
N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: BLACKSBURG State: SC Country:
US
DESCRIPTION
ACFT ON TAKEOFF STRUCK POWERLINES, INTO A RAVINE AND CAUGHT
FIRE, FROM A
PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR BLACKSBURG, VA
INJURY DATA Total
Fatal: 0
# Crew: 2 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
Departed: BLACKSBURG,
SC
Dep Date: Dep.
Time:
Destination:
Flt
Plan:
Wx Briefing:
Last Radio Cont:
Last Clearance:
FAA FSDO: COLUMBIA, SC
(SO13)
Entry date: 05/24/2006
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.02.24)
See All