Albatros Brought Down By Local Airport Birds

(please note updates, below)

Elmo Hahn, 53, restorer and purveyor of the Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros, had just finished filming a segment on the aircraft for CNN on Monday. He was taking off from Gadsden (AL) Municipal, when witnesses say his L-39 gulped down a significant part of the population of a flock of birds.

The engine quit; Hahn ejected, but he was too low. The 10,000-hour pilot was dead at the scene. The aircraft was consumed in fire.

Hahn worked at International Jets Inc., which specializes in the L-39 and other military jets, and offers flight training, as well as airframe-direct services.

UPDATE and Correction:
Joe Brand, owner of International Jets, told us that he reached Mr. Hahn at the scene, and that the experienced pilot, who had ejected at such an angle that the 'chute couldn't do him any good, was actually "trying to get up." Mr. Hahn died on the way to the hospital. His open-face helmet had afforded him some protection; but we are told that head trauma was eventually listed as the cause of death.

Mr. Brand also set the record straight about Mr. Hahn's background with the L-39. "He was a very experienced, good pilot with those jets. He was a customer, and a good friend." He was not, as early reports (including ours) had indicated.

There has been additional speculation that the birds may not have been the direct cause of the accident. We have heard from at least two sources that current speculation is that perhaps the birds caused the forward baggage compartment to open, and that some baggage, or even a compartment door, may have been ingested by the L-39.

**   Report created 7/1/2003   Record 10  **
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 8125R        Make/Model: L39      Description: 1983 AERO VODOCHODY L39C
  Date: 06/30/2003     Time: 2033
  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
  City: GADSDEN   State: AL   Country: US
DESCRIPTION
  ACFT CRASHED ON DEPARTURE ON RUNWAY 6, ACFT STRUCK A FLOCK OF BIRDS, ONE PERSON ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED, GADSDEN AIRPORT, GADSDEN, AL
INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:  1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
WEATHER: METAR KGAD 302049Z AUTO 25006KT SCT001 BKN011 BKN025 22/21 A3019
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Take-off      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: GADSDEN, AL                 Dep Date: 06/30/2003   Dep. Time: 2033
  Destination: MUSKEGON, MI             Flt Plan: IFR          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: RADIO 2024Z ISSUED IFR CLRNCE THEN CHANGED TO ARPT FREQ
  Last Clearance: DEPART RY 6, ENTER CONTROLLED AIRSPACE HDG 040. CLMB TO 5000FT
  FAA FSDO: BIRMINGHAM, AL  (SO09)                Entry date: 07/01/2003

FMI: www.internationaljets.com/l39albatros.html