Spitfire Belly Landing Masterton...Bummer!

[GlennAV8R]

Hot off the press, the Spitfire has crash landed at Masterton just now, occupants all okay but aircraft leaking fuel.

Glenn.

[Adamski]

QUOTE (GlennAV8R @ Jan 15 2009, 03:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hot off the press, the Spitfire has crash landed at Masterton just now, occupants all okay but aircraft leaking fuel.

I presume that's Doug Brooker's 2-seat Spit? *Oh dear* ... seems to be jinxed, that one

[K5054NZ]

Sadly it's true: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article....jectid=10552052


Spitfire crashes at Masterton Aerodrome
5:45PM Thursday Jan 15, 2009


Doug Brooker walked away unhurt after his Spitfire crash landed at Masterton Aerodrome. Photo / Wairarapa Times-Age

A Spitfire aircraft crashed at the Masterton Aerodrome in the Wairarapa today.

The aircraft crashed just after 3pm, said a fire communications spokesman.

The pilot was not injured in the crash.

The cause of the crash was not known.

The World War 2 aircraft was due to fly in the Wings Over Wairarapa show this weekend.

[markll]

QUOTE (Adamski @ Jan 15 2009, 04:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I presume that's Doug Brooker's 2-seat Spit? *Oh dear* ... seems to be jinxed, that one

Jinzed?? In what way?? Apart from the issue with US Customs, which was resolved in record time (for the US State dept, anyway....)....oh, and the fact that the last guy to "buy" it died in a crash before he could even take posession of it....

Mrk

[Adamski]

QUOTE (markll @ Jan 15 2009, 07:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Jinzed?? In what way?? Apart from the issue with US Customs, which was resolved in record time (for the US State dept, anyway....)....oh, and the fact that the last guy to "buy" it died in a crash before he could even take posession of it....

It had a fuel leak at the Ardmore show (spotted just before starting up) and I think I heard it was a "no-show" at some other display before that (can't remember which though). My sympathies for Doug - must be heartbreaking.

[markll]

QUOTE (Adamski @ Jan 15 2009, 08:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It had a fuel leak at the Ardmore show (spotted just before starting up) and I think I heard it was a "no-show" at some other display before that (can't remember which though). My sympathies for Doug - must be heartbreaking.

Hmmm....well all I can say is that as grand as the aircraft itself is, thank goodness that Doug himself (and passenger if there was one) are ok...thats the main thing, but I agree - he's got to be pretty gutted...wonder what went wrong...

[ardypilot]

QUOTE (Adamski @ Jan 15 2009, 04:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

*Oh dear* ... seems to be jinxed, that one

That's the first thing I thought when I saw the clip on 3news tonight - first it was impounded for the Mercury Bay Airshow at Whitianga last summer, then failed to appear at Ohakea and Wanaka- had the fuel leak at Ardmore more recently, and now this!

Lets hope we'll get to see at least one spitty this Easter down at Omaka, two in the air at once will be a real treat. Fingers X'ed!

[Ian Warren]

Tim's , Sir Tim's Spitty went thought a glitch of problems from belly landings and breaking propellers .. maybe because its one of the few .. the very good pilots hickcup ... almost like a game of Pool , the best shot and you still miss it .

[Naki]

I think there is a jinx with all Spitfires in NZ ..hopefully the Deere Spitfire goes smoothy!

[Ace]

Unfortunately I witnessed the incident from about 100m away, which was quite an experience.
The Spitfire pretty much just landed heavily, and the gear gave way, followed by the prop biting the ground.
Like everyone else Im not really sure as to what really happened (some rumours that it was because of the fuel problems its been having recently, not sure if thats true in this case or not).
I was truely glad to see Doug exit the cockpit unharmed, and it wasnt long before emergency services were on the scene.

Showing the extent of the damage (which is really rather minor thankfully).


I was really looking forward to seeing this new Spitfire put through its paces at the show, atleast I got to see it fly for a bit.
Looks like a beautiful aircraft, and I really hope they rebuild her so that perhaps we might finally get to see this bird at an airshow.

[Ian Warren]

To mention how delicate one of these are , 1988 , the Late Colin 'Col' Paye was taxing his Mk8 Spitty during the Australian Bi-Centinennial Airshow , one wheel dropped in a ditch(pot-hole) on the side off the runway taking the tips of the propeller , that there ended his display ........ SPITFIRE ! , the ironic part off the story , the only place in the world that made wooden the propeller for the type was Germany and at a - back then $38,000 ....... ooophs

[Fauville]

From that front on shot looks like the left undercarriage took the brunt and folded up certainly the wrong way, looks like the leading edge damaged by the wheel also, right wheel folded back into its wheel well. Lucky with the spit it has those big radiator 'boxes' under the wings and the air intake on the nose for it to sit on when gear collapses, hopefully with not to mush structural damage.

Yea Ian, expensive pieces of wood those props, with the blades shearing off like that hope the merlin wasn't over torqued without no resistance to turn, meaning a new engine or total rebuild $$$$

But at least Mr Booker is OK.

[Timmo]

QUOTE

Yea Ian, expensive pieces of wood those props, with the blades shearing off like that hope the merlin wasn't over torqued without no resistance to turn, meaning a new engine or total rebuild $$$$[/quote]

Well hopefully the merlin wasn't damaged, that'd be an expensive overhaul!

[Timmo]

I may be wrong (and hopefully for the owner I am) but it looks like there are two stress/crease marks on the right wing near the root? You can see them in the shadows near the thickest part of the wing and in the shiny bit/reflection at the leading edge?

At least it would require inspection of the spar I would imagine = $$ and time

[Ace]

QUOTE (Timmo @ Jan 16 2009, 09:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I may be wrong (and hopefully for the owner I am) but it looks like there are two stress/crease marks on the right wing near the root? You can see them in the shadows near the thickest part of the wing and in the shiny bit/reflection at the leading edge?

At least it would require inspection of the spar I would imagine = $$ and time

Oh wow I didnt notice that before, I think you're right.

[Brennanx]

Well word on the street is that he flared a bit to early and the gear couldn't handle it.

[Njbb1995]

That ain't to good......

[FlyingKiwi]

Well, if there's one consolation, it's that being a Spitfire it's not going to end up on the scrapheap regardless of how major the damage is. Whether Doug can be bothered repairing it after all the trouble its had or sells it off is another matter.

[K5054NZ]

Ok, remember how a wee while back someone brought up the idea of an NZFF-owned aeroplane?





Anyone keen?

[Adamski]

QUOTE (Brennanx @ Jan 16 2009, 11:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well word on the street is that he flared a bit to early and the gear couldn't handle it.

I'm only guessing here ... but is it possible that - with forward view being so limited - and the runway dropping off in height at the threshold, that Doug had his eye on the runway level much further down (which may be much higher in elevation)?

I often wonder how pilots landed the Corsairs on carriers. I presume they "crabbed it" quite a lot then straightened up at the last moment <??>.