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-12.08.25

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

NTSB Final Report: Patriot Aircraft LLC CX1900A

After Draining Both Wing Fuel Tanks, A Significant Amount Of Water Was Observed In The Right Wing Fuel Tank Analysis: The pilot, who was also the owner of the experimental amateur->[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (12.06.25)

“Airbus apologises for any challenges and delays caused to passengers and airlines by this event. The Company thanks its customers, the authorities, its employees and all rel>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.06.25): High Speed Taxiway

High Speed Taxiway A long radius taxiway designed and provided with lighting or marking to define the path of aircraft, traveling at high speed (up to 60 knots), from the runway ce>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (12.06.25)

Aero Linx: Taylorcraft Foundation, Inc. The Taylorcraft Foundation is exclusively organized for charitable, educational & scientific activities and will preserve the history an>[...]

Airborne-NextGen 12.02.25: Honda eVTOL, Arctus High-Alt UAS, Samson Patent

Also: USAF Reaper Accident, Baikonur Damage, Horizon eVTOL IFR/FIKI, New Glenn Update Honda has outlined its clearest timeline yet for its entry into the world of electric vertical>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

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