ANN REALTIME Update, 0945 EST, 07.27.05: The
pilot of "Donna-Mite"has now been confirmed as Richard James,
67, of Fennimore, Wi. ANN Extends our condolences to his
family and friends.
This month's series of airshow tragedies has just added another
soul to the roster.
A North American P-51 Mustang, reported in general media as a D
model bird, was lost during the Tuesday afternoon warbird fly-bys
at the Oshkosh EAA Airshow. Tuesday's show featured a number of
exciting warbird flights throughout the afternoon, including USAF
Heritage Flights, a number of bomber runs and a series of fighter
passes that thrilled tens of thousands who braved occasional rains
to view one of the strongest Oshkosh airshow rosters in many
years.
The aircraft had completed one pass and was preparing for
another when it was discovered to be missing from the formation
gathering for the next approach to Oshkosh, Wisconsin's Wittman
Field. The Fond Du Lac Police Department received a report of a
"Plane Down" at 1602 local time and dispatched officers to the
scene. A single engine aircraft was found to have impacted a farm
field in Calumet County, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin... near the east
Shore of Lake Winnebago. The aircraft was occupied by a single
pilot, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
One media report quotes NTSB Investigator Ed Malinowski as
saying that, 'judging by the crash site, it didn't look like there
was any effort to land the plane.'
History Of The "Donna-Mite"
According to public records, the Donna-Mite was a North American
P-51D fighter, serial number 44-74417 construction number
122-40957. The aircraft was assigned a construction contract number
in 1944, just as war production was gearing down in anticipation of
an Allied victory. As a result the plane likely remained in storage
until 1950, when it was assigned to the Royal Canadian Air Force
and assigned her first registry RCAF 9586. This airplane remained
in Canadian service for eight years, until she was sold to
Intercontinental Airways in Canastota, NY in December of 1958.
The aircraft was sold to Aero Enterprises of Elkhart, IN in May
of 1960, and was assigned registry N6327T. Ownership of the
aircraft was transferred to Garland Brown on February 16th, 1963,
and he would remain the owner for the next 24 years.
The aircraft was involved in an accident in Fort Wayne, Indiana,
on 4 August 1966, when the aircraft struck a Cessna 175 from behind
during a fast taxi after landing. The airplane was repaired and
returned to service.
The aircraft changed owners 1987, and again in 1989 when Richard
James purchased the airplane. At the time, she was painted as the
"Tabasco." Mr. James repainted the aircraft as the "Donna-Mite" in
1996.
The aircraft was involved in a second accident on 28 July 1994,
while the aircraft was participating in the Oshkosh air show.
Again, the aircraft struck another aircraft from behind while
taxing after landing, this time striking the tail of a Commander
114A at Fort Atkinson, WI. The aircraft was once more
repaired.
[ANN Thanks Troy Prince, of www.midwaysailor.com,
for his kindpermission in granting ANN the use of the above
photos.]