Friends Fondly Remember Glenn Moore As 'Father Of Aviation' In Area

The pilot of a single-engine experimental aircraft succumbed to injuries suffered when his plane lost power and crashed into a field south of Stag Air Park (7NC1) near Burgaw, NC last Thursday afternoon.

WECT-6 of Wilmington reports that Glenn Moore, 80, was flying his homebuilt plane when witnesses say the engine began to sputter and eventually quit before impacting into an open field off John Humphrey Road. The plane, built by Moore, was dubbed a "Moronca," incorporating the fuselage from an Aeronca and wings and landing gear of his own design.

Ken McGee, president of local EAA Chapter 297, described Moore as a founding member of the Chapter and a "wonderful guy, [who] just gave and gave and gave and gave to the aviation community." Moore was a past president of Chapter 297, and had flown over 30 Young Eagles over the years.

"He was a hard core aviator, a great pilot, a great builder, a great designer. If you wanted to know something about flying, whether it was history of flying in our area or how something worked on a particular kind of aircraft, Glenn could certainly help you with it," McGee said.

Ed Patram, a friend of Moore, said, "If he had to go I feel like he's glad he went that way," doing what he loved."But, we're sorry he went any way at all."

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 404AF        Make/Model: EXP       Description: EXP- MORONCA
  Date: 03/05/2009     Time: 1905

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

LOCATION
  City: BURGAW   State: NC   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT DEPARTED A PRIVATE AIRFIELD IN BURGAW, NC AND CRASHED IN A FIELD DUE TO UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, BURGAW, NC

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: UNKNOWN

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

FAA FSDO: GREENSBORO, NC (SO05)                Entry date: 03/06/2009

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.eaa297.org/moronca.html