BAC-167 Strikemaster May Have Flamed Out During Vertical Climb

A New York surgeon was fatally injured Saturday when the BAC-167 Strikemaster he had just purchased went down in the Hudson River following a low pass over Kingston Ulster Airport (20N).

Dragon Airshow BAC-167 Strikemaster

Dr. Michael Faraldi was bringing the vintage jet, thought to be one of only 14 in the world, to 20N where it would have been based. He had bought the plane in Nashville, TN, from Dragon Aviation, which used the warbird in airshows. Dragon Aviation president Andy Anderson described Faraldi as a "good friend," and confirmed the aircraft had been owned by his company.

A witness who was also a friend of the pilot told television station WNYW that he watched Faraldi make a low pass over the airport and pull up into a near-vertical climb. But Dr. Ken Newman said the aircraft appeared to lose thrust, nosed over, and went down in the river, breaking through a layer of ice and sinking in about 10 feet of water.

Media sources indicate that Dr. Faraldi's body was recovered by rescue divers from the cockpit of the airplane Sunday afternoon. He was the only person on board the Strikemaster when it went down.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov