Pilot Was Practicing Touch-And-Goes When The Airplane Went Down

To men from Jupiter, FL, were injured Sunday when the Columbia LC42-550FG they were flying went down while performing touch-and-goes at the Okeechobee County (FL) Airport (KOBE). The aircraft reportedly hit a tanker truck at a nearby feed and supply store after a bouncing on landing.

According to witness John Bubel, a pilot claiming 30 years experience, the plane came in "very hot" at about mid-field and hit the runway hard, according to a report appearing in the Okeechobee News. Bubel said they had "one good landing" out of about a dozen attempts.

The force of the landing sheared off the nosewheel, and the prop impacted the pavement. The pilot, identified by Okeechobee Sheriff's Office detective Marty Faulkner as Donald Dowd, attempted to regain altitude after the impact, but was unable to do so with the damaged prop. The plane's registered owner, Thomas Hewitt, reportedly then took control of the airplane, but only managed to stay airborne for a short time before coming down at the Wapole Feed & Supply Company near the airport. The aircraft struck a tanker truck parked at the business, and there was an explosion, according to Bubel.

The plane reportedly then skidded about 150 feet before impacting some lumber on the premises, and continued into a wooded area before coming to a stop. Both occupants survived the accident, and were transported to area hospitals.

Bubel, who watched the touch-and-goes from the airport restaurant, said that the only good landing that was made was on about the fifth attempt. Otherwise, he said, all of the landing attempts were too fast and hit the pavement hard.

Detective Faulkner said both of the men were "doing well."

(Photo from file. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov