Had Been Readying Plane For Sun 'N Fun

Aero-News has learned Gary Schmitt, co-owner of Just Aircraft LLC in Walhalla, SC, received serious injuries last Sunday when the Highlander airplane he was planning to fly to Lakeland this week went down while attempting to land.

Henry Gordon, director of the Oconee County (SC) Emergency Management Agency, told the Anderson (SC) Independent-Mail Schmitt experienced unknown problems with the plane (file photo of type, above) about 150 feet from the Walhalla plant.

"He was just doing some final testing," Gordon said. "He barely missed a power line before he crashed."

Gordon added the FAA had checked off on the engine in the plane Schmitt was flying the week before the accident. Mr. Schmitt had experienced problems with the aircraft Saturday, but he believed they had been taken care of.

Schmitt was reportedly able to land the airplane on a relatively flat surface, approximately 1/4 mile from the field. Gordon said. Emergency crews responded to the scene quickly, and took Schmitt to a local hospital. He was still listed in serious condition at midweek.

The Highlander -- a two-seat, high-wing upgraded "backcountry" successor to JustAircraft's original Escapade homebuilt airplane -- was completely destroyed in the accident, Gordon said.

The FAA and NTSB are investigating the accident.

**   Report created 4/7/2006   Record 5
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IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 9085N        Make/Model: EXP       Description: HIGHLANDER
  Date: 04/02/2006     Time: 1354

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Serious     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: WALHALLA   State: SC   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  ACFT LANDED ON A ROAD UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, ONE PERSON ON BOARD
  SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES, ACFT WAS DESTROYED, WALHALLA, SC

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   1     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:                             Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination:                          Flt Plan:              Wx Briefing: 
  Last Radio Cont: 
  Last Clearance: 

  FAA FSDO: COLUMBIA, SC  (SO13)                  Entry date: 04/03/2006

FMI: www.justaircraft.com, www.faa.gov