Plane Bound For AirVenture Suffers Engine Failure

They are pilots, and friends... and meant to meet up on the grounds of EAA's AirVenture. Instead, their paths neary crossed in the middle of Wisconsin's Highway 41 Sunday.

Bill Leff, of Dayton, OH, told the Fond du Lac Reporter the engine in his 1951 North American T-6 Texan failed while he was heading toward the airport, meaning an emergency landing was a necessity.

"For awhile the engine continued to run but eventually stopped running entirely," said Leff, "and I realized I wasn't going to make it (to the airport)."

Leff looked towards Wisconsin's Highway 41 -- a heavily traveled four lane highway, and the road often used by those bound for AirVenture from Milwaukee and Chicago.

Ironically, a tire had blown on his friend David Mann's motor home, and it was sitting on the side of Highway 41... where two Wisconsin State Patrol cars were guiding traffic around it.

"I was concerned that there was not going to be enough space (to land)," said Leff, "but when things happen like that you don't have time to be scared or to worry."

With the plane landing behind the motor home, it bounced and cleared the 32-foot vehicle, coming within eight feet of his friend's head.

"I saw it just when it was to the back of the motor home and I yelled something unprintable and by then it was above my head," Mann recalled.

"I have been a pilot for over 40 years and this was the closest I have ever been to an aircraft in flight that I was not flying."

Following the excitement, Mann learned the pilot was a friend that he's flown with to several air shows over the years.

Leff said he's grateful he and his 19-year-old son landed safely.

"I was able to pick a spot in between (the vehicles) and I was careful, and the drivers down there were alert," Leff said.

The T-6's engine will be repaired, said Leff. The plane's right wing was also dented when it clipped a bridge marker post.

A 44-year veteran pilot, Leff has flown the T-6 Texan for 32 of those years. He had planned to fly the Texan in Monday's air show. 

EAA Chairman Tom Poberezny spoke to reporters Monday about airplane safety at AirVenture.

"We do everything possible in terms of the procedures, the process, the education, and the communications," he said. "When you deal with masses of people like we have here, there's always that opportunity for error."

"When you look at the magnitude of the operation and the percentage of incidents or accidents, ours are extremely low."

In regard to Sunday's incident, Poberezny said Leff did an amazing job.

"My hat is off to Bill. He did exactly what he had to do to be safe, minimize the damage to himself and equipment and to the people on the ground."

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.eaa.org