Pilot Sustained Non-Life-Threatening Injuries

The pilot of a restored Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" sustained non-life-threatening injuries when he was forced to land his airplane on the No. 4 fairway at CrossWinds Golf Course in Bowling Green, KY on Saturday.

The plane was being flown by Terry Richardson, who is described as a "veteran pilot" in a report appearing in the Bowling Green Daily News. He departed from Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport at about 1115 local time and climbed to about 100 feet before putting the airplane down on the golf course about 400 feet from the airport fence. Witnesses said it sounded like the engine lost power before the plane came down. A golfer who observed the accident said he saw the plane leaning to the side. He came right over the top of us and clipped that tree. The plane spun around and then wend down."

When some golfers ran to the accident scene, they found Richardson bleeding from a head wound and the airplane leaking gasoline. They removed Richardson from the plane and was able to walk to the ambulance when it arrived, according to the report.

The Jenny was restored by the Friends of Jenny nonprofit organization. It has become something of an ambassador for Bowling Green and flying history lesson, according to the report. It has been flown to air shows in Florida, Alabama, Wisconsin and other places.

A member of the "Friends of Jenny" organization said that the plane is challenging to fly under the best of conditions, and that surface winds on Saturday may have contributed to the accident.

The plane was substantially damaged. The paper reports that Richardson is a retired U.S. Navy pilot who recently received the FAA's "Wright Brothers Master Pilot" award which is presented to "individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircraft," according to the FAA.

(Image from file. Not accident airplane)

FMI: Original Report