Thorp T-18 Down In Michigan, Pilot Fatally Injured | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

 Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.13.24

Airborne-NextGen-05.07.24

 Airborne-Unlimited-05.08.24 Airborne-FlightTraining-05.09.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.10.24

Tue, Sep 27, 2011

Thorp T-18 Down In Michigan, Pilot Fatally Injured

Pilots Were Heading To Breakfast, Fog May Have Been A Factor

A Thorp T-18 flown by its owner went down on approach to Plainwell Municipal Airport (61D) in Michigan Friday morning. Witnesses said that the aircraft apparently impacted a Fed-Ex semi truck traveling on U.S. 131 just a short distance from the runway threshold. The pilot was fatally injured.

Thorp T-18 File Photo

FAA records indicate the 1978 Thorp was owned by William Beswick Jr. of Holland, MI. Television station WXMI indicates that he and a friend, Ken Dannenburg, were flying their airplanes from Tulip City airport (KBIV) to the Fly Inn Restaurant at 61D, as they did "once or twice a week," according to restaurant employees. Local pilots said at the time of the accident, there was a brief period of heavy fog that covered the airport, and that may have been a contributing factor in the accident.

There is no published instrument approach at 61D. Video shot by the station shows the substantially-damaged airplane down near the runway, its N-number clearly visible on the vertical stab. The accident is under investigation.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.10.24): Takeoff Roll

Takeoff Roll The process whereby an aircraft is aligned with the runway centerline and the aircraft is moving with the intent to take off. For helicopters, this pertains to the act>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.10.24)

“We’re proud of the hard work that went into receiving this validation, and it will be a welcome relief to our customers in the European Union. We couldn’t be mor>[...]

Airborne 05.06.24: Gone West-Dick Rutan, ICON BK Update, SpaceX EVA Suit

Also: 1800th E-Jet, Uncle Sam Sues For Landing Gear, Embraer Ag Plane, Textron Parts A friend of the family reported that Lt. Col. (Ret.) Richard Glenn Rutan flew west on Friday, M>[...]

Airborne 05.03.24: Advanced Powerplant Solutions, PRA Runway Woes, Drone Racing

Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.11.24)

"Aircraft Spruce is pleased to announce the acquisition of the parts distribution operations of Wag-Aero. Wag-Aero was founded in the 1960’s by Dick and Bobbie Wagner in the >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne 05.13.24: DC-9 Jump Plane, Wag-Aero Sold, VA-1X AAIB Report

Airborne 05.10.24: Icon Auction, Drunk MedEvac Pilot, Bell ALFA

Airborne-Flight Training 05.09.24: ERAU at AIAA, LIFT Diamond Buy, Epic A&P

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC