Rudy Frasca's T-34 Gets Chewed Up at Last Minute

Story and Photos by ANN Correspondent RC Jones

Sometimes it doesn't pay to get up in the morning. At the end of Warbird row, nearest the runway 9-27, a T-6 owner fired up his mount and started taxiing towards Alpha intersection for take-off instructions. 

Apparently not seeing too well where he was -- or where he was going, the T-6 driver (and we're told, without marshallers) proceded to taxi up the back of a T-34. The owner of the T-34 had packed things up and was headed for the loo during the proceedings ensuing.

Damage to the T-6 was limited to scratches on the prop blade and several dents in the leading edge of the left wing. The unfortunate T-34 took the brunt of the event.  Left horizontal stabilizer was chopped up about 2/3 of its length, elevator likewise, and the rudder bent permanentely right, with damage to the tailcone and marker lights. State Police were quickly on the scene, taking down the vitals.

Later, the T-34 was taxied to the Weeks center (EAA Maintenance Building) for evaluation and later repairs.

[The T-6G is registered to Richard Bibb, of Oak Hill, Virginia. We do not know who was actually driving --ed.]

**   Report created 8/5/2003   Record 2   **
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 3518G        Make/Model: T6      Description: T-6, AT-6, BC-1, SNJ, TEXAN, H
  Date: 08/04/2003     Time: 1800
  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: Y    Missing: N
  Damage: Minor
LOCATION
  City: OSHKOSH   State: WI   Country: US
DESCRIPTION
  ACFT, N3518G, NORTH AMERICAN AT-6, WHILE TAXIING ON THE NORTH FIELD STRUCK ANOTHER ACFT, N54RF, A T-34 THAT WAS PARKED, NO INJURIES REPORTED, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN, WITTMAN REGIONAL AIRPORT, OSHKOSH, WI
INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:  1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:

   
WEATHER: UNK
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Taxi      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: UNK                         Dep Date:    Dep. Time:
  Destination: UNK                      Flt Plan: UNK          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: UNK
  Last Clearance: UNK
  FAA FSDO: MILWAUKEE, WI  (GL13)                 Entry date: 08/05/2003

--

**   Report created 8/5/2003   Record 3   **
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 54RF        Make/Model: BE45      Description: BEECH A45
  Date: 08/04/2003     Time: 1800
  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: Y    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
  City: OSHKOSH   State: WI   Country: US
DESCRIPTION
  ACFT, N3518G, NORTH AMERICAN AT-6, WHILE TAXIING ON THE NORTH FIELD STRUCK ANOTHER ACFT, N54RF, A T-34 THAT WAS PARKED, NO INJURIES REPORTED, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN, WITTMAN REGIONAL AIRPORT, OSHKOSH, WI
INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:  0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
WEATHER: UNK
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Standing      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: UNK                         Dep Date:    Dep. Time:
  Destination: UNK                      Flt Plan: NONE         Wx Briefing: N
  Last Radio Cont: UNK
  Last Clearance:
  FAA FSDO: MILWAUKEE, WI  (GL13)                 Entry date: 08/05/2003