Thorp T-18 Down In Michigan, Pilot Fatally Injured | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

 Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-12.01.25

AirborneNextGen-
12.02.25

Airborne-Unlimited-12.03.25

Airborne-FltTraining-12.04.25

AirborneUnlimited-12.05.25

AFE 2025 LIVE MOSAIC Town Hall (Archived): www.airborne-live.net

Tue, Sep 27, 2011

Thorp T-18 Down In Michigan, Pilot Fatally Injured

Pilots Were Heading To Breakfast, Fog May Have Been A Factor

A Thorp T-18 flown by its owner went down on approach to Plainwell Municipal Airport (61D) in Michigan Friday morning. Witnesses said that the aircraft apparently impacted a Fed-Ex semi truck traveling on U.S. 131 just a short distance from the runway threshold. The pilot was fatally injured.

Thorp T-18 File Photo

FAA records indicate the 1978 Thorp was owned by William Beswick Jr. of Holland, MI. Television station WXMI indicates that he and a friend, Ken Dannenburg, were flying their airplanes from Tulip City airport (KBIV) to the Fly Inn Restaurant at 61D, as they did "once or twice a week," according to restaurant employees. Local pilots said at the time of the accident, there was a brief period of heavy fog that covered the airport, and that may have been a contributing factor in the accident.

There is no published instrument approach at 61D. Video shot by the station shows the substantially-damaged airplane down near the runway, its N-number clearly visible on the vertical stab. The accident is under investigation.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov

Advertisement

More News

Aero-FAQ: Dave Juwel's Aviation Marketing Stories -- ITBOA BNITBOB

Dave Juwel's Aviation Marketing Stories ITBOA BNITBOB ... what does that mean? It's not gibberish, it's a lengthy acronym for "In The Business Of Aviation ... But Not In The Busine>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Rutan Long-EZ

The Pilot Attempted Several Times To Restart The Engine And Diverted To Long Beach Airport/Daughtery Field On October 20, 2025, about 1603 Pacific daylight time, an experimental am>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.05.25): Hazardous Weather Information

Hazardous Weather Information Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent pilot>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (12.05.25)

"The latest development underscores the government of Malaysia’s commitment in providing closure to the families affected by this tragedy..." Source: From statements made by >[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 12.04.25: Ldg Fee Danger, Av Mental Health, PC-7 MKX

Also: IAE Acquires Diamond Trainers, Army Drones, FedEx Pilots Warning, DA62 MPP To Dresden Tech Uni The danger to the flight training industry and our future pilots is clear. Dona>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne 10.03.25: Phantom 3500 Buy, ‘Chinese Military Company’, NOTAM Redesign

Airborne Affordable Flyers 10.02.25: MOSAIC Start Date, AFE25 Tickets, ePulitzer

Airborne 10.01.25: New Gulfstream G300, Affordable Flying Expo Tkts, Starship 11

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC