Pilot and Two Passengers Swim Away Unscathed After Ditching
Near FL Keys
For reasons yet unknown, a 1989 Waco Classic biplane ended the
year with a splash as it was ditched off Sombrero Beach, FL, near
the Marathon airport in the FL Keys.
The Jacobs powered bipe reportedly suffered some manner of power
interruption, while the pilot called for a Mayday on the local
unicom frequency and managed what appears to be a pretty
well-controlled ditching into the Atlantic.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office confirms that there were
three people on board the Conch Air Waco flight-seeing aircraft
(three men, according to local media reports), the pilot and two
passengers. All three occupants refused medical attention (but
probably did ask for a towel...) and the aircraft appeared to
suffer very little damage in the unplanned arrival away from Terra
Firma. Unfortunately; while the aircraft was pulled from the ocean
fairly quickly, ANY immersion in salt water probably makes the bird
a write-off.
ANN Reader Glen Gates was in the pattern at the time of the
accident and reported that he heard the Mayday calls and told ANN
that he heard... "a very calm voice says, 'MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY,
Waco going down.' This chilling message on the common frequency is
about as rare as hens teeth... I heard the pilot say it again when
he added 'position one mile south of Marathon.'"
The airplane, N64JE, is owned and operated by Conch Air, of
Marathon, FL. Conch Air offers air tours, sightseeing rides,
aerobatic rides and has a special offer of a "Free Ride To Anyone
Over 100 Years of Age." Reader Gates reports that he flew with
Conch Air's pilot, Paul, about a year ago and found him to be a
"pretty good aviator" and based on the success of the ditching, we
have a reason to suspect that Glen's judgement is right on the
money.
N64JE is a red/yellow 1989 Waco Classic, powered by a Jacobs
R755B radial engine producing some 275 HP. With a stall speed in
the neighborhood of 51 kts, the bird obviously offered the safety
of being able to flare at a slow speed prior to water impact
(indeed, our experience flying this breed of aircraft revealed
exceptional handling in the low-speed regime right up to and
through the stall). The accident occurred about 1435, and within
minutes, over a half dozen watercraft were close to the aircraft
and assisted in extricating the pilot and passengers and assisting
them back to solid ground. The aircraft reportedly took several
minutes to sink, offering more than sufficient time for the
occupants to clear the aircraft and get to the boats.
(ANN thanks reader Glen Gates and the Monroe Co. Sheriff for the
pix).
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