Warbird Alley's
Warbird News
Here's the latest news from the warbird aircraft community.
We update this page regularly. Items are moved to the
News Archive after approximately fourteen months.

Today's Date:

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March 2012:

• 1 March: A Bell AH-1 Cobra helicopter, N197LE, crashed in the desert near Coolidge, Arizona, USA, while filming an episode of the Top Gear Korea TV program. Neither crewmember was injured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged. [Video of the accident>>]

• 2 March: A turboprop-powered 1983 SIAI-Marchetti SF-260TP, N350TP, was substantially damaged after landing at Corona, California, USA, after which it struck a vehicle, another aircraft, and some buildings. The pilot was not injured.

• 6 March: An IAI F-21A Kfir jet, N404AX, operated by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) crashed at NAS Fallon, Nevada, USA, killing the civilian contract pilot, Capt. Carrol LeFon (USN Ret). [Local media report >>]

• 10 March: A 1959 North American SNJ-5, N3246G, operated by the Commemorative Air Force, ground-looped on landing at Mesa, Arizona, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 12 March: A Beechcraft T-34B (D45) Mentor, N8662E, experienced a collapsed landing gear upon landing in Okeechobee, Florida, USA. Neither the pilot nor the passenger were injured.

• 20 March: A 1951 North American T-6G Texan, N791MH, operated by the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, was struck by a truck while taxiing at Bessemer, Louisiana, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 22 March: A Douglas C-54G Skymaster, N406WA (c/n 35944), suffered the collapse of its nose landing gear while taxiing in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Neither crewmember was injured.

• 23 March: A 1978 Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatros, N138EM, operated by the Black Diamond Jet Team, landed gear-up at Punta Gorda, Florida, USA, after an airshow performance. The aircraft suffered moderate damage, but the pilot was not injured.

• 26 March: A 1958 Pilatus P-3, N821LT (A-821), suffered the collapse of its nose gear upon landing in Ardmore, Oklahoma, USA. The pilot and passenger were not injured.

• 27 March: A 1969 Bell OH-58 Kiowa helicopter, N452MC, made an emergency landing near Liberty, Mississippi, USA after the aircraft began to smoke. Shortly after the landing, the helicopter was destroyed by fire. The pilot escaped injury.

• 30 March: An Arado-Flugzeugwerke GmbH FW190-A5 replica, N190DK, veered off the runway upon landing at Casa Grande, Arizona, USA. The aircraft's left landing gear collapsed, but the pilot was not injured.

• An oil exploration team working in the deserts of Egypt has discovered a remarkably intact Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk that crash-landed in 1942. The aircraft is believed to be ET574, flown by 260 Squadron of the RAF. [See the amazing photo gallery here >>] [Video of Egyptians removing ammo>>]

April 2012:

• 1 April: A Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21UM Mongol-B, N1165, went off the runway and into the grass during its landing roll at Wilmington, Delaware, USA. No injuries were reported.

• 4 April: Well-known warbird owner, race pilot and airshow pilot Howard Pardue was killed in the crash of his 1945 Grumman F8F Bearcat, N14HP, in Breckenridge, Texas, USA. Witnesses reported the pilot appeared to be attempting a Half Cuban-Eight maneuver immediately after takeoff, but the maneuver apparently went wrong, and the aircraft struck the ground in a high rate of descent. Pardue was a fixture at the National Air Races at Reno for many years, as well as an accomplished airshow performer. [Preliminary accident report >>]

• 5 April: A de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen FAW.2, G-CVIX (XP924), suffered the collapse of its nose landing gear upon landing at Bournemouth, Dorset, UK, following a test flight. The pilot was not injured, and damage to the aircraft was believed to be minor.

• 10 April: Good News for the Reno Air Races: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has made some safety recommendations that will allow the National Championship Air Races to be held, in substantially the same form as in the past. Among the changes recommended are slight modifications to the race course and requiring heavily-modified race aircraft to be previously test-flown at race speeds before participating in the race. [More information >>]

• 14 April: Twenty Supermarine Spitfire aircraft that were buried 40 feet underground in Burma just before the end of WWII have been located and will be repatriated to the UK soon, according to an article in the Telegraph. It is thought the aircraft are in very good condition. [Read the article>>]

• 17-20 April: The annual Doolittle Raiders Reunion was held at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio, USA to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the famous and audacious B-25 raid on Tokyo. This event featured not only the largest gathering of B-25 Mitchell bombers since WWII (20 aircraft in attendance), but also four of the five surviving crewmembers from the raid. A mass flyover of B-25s was also performed. [Event information >>]

  
Photo Copyright 2012 by Francois Bergeon. Used with permission.
(Click for larger version.)

• 18 April: Another legislative threat to warbirds: A proposed amendment to a House bill (H.R. 4310) would effectively stop the US Department of Defense from providing aircraft, or even spare parts, to civilian individuals or organizations, if those aircraft or parts are destined to be part of an airworthy aircraft. Please see our Threats to Warbirds page for more information.

• 28 April: A Yakovlev Yak-52, registered RA-3585K, crashed into a lake near Langford, Essex, UK, after failing to recover from a spin. Both the instructor pilot and his passenger were killed. [AAIB accident report>>]

May 2012:

• 3 May: A Supermarine TR.9 Spitfire, MJ772, performed a wheels-up landing in Bremgarten, Germany. The aircraft had been recently restored, and the pilot elected to perform the belly landing after one of the main gear would not extend.

• 6 May: A 1950 North American T-6G Texan, N1284 (c/n 168/448), was slightly damaged after running off the end of the runway upon landing at Bayou La Batre, Louisiana, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 6 May: A 1946 Piper L-4 / J-3 Grasshopper was heavily damaged after the pilot lost control during takeoff, and the plane struck a stand of trees at his private airfield in Westhampton, Massachusetts, USA. The pilot suffered only minor injuries.

• 6 May: A 1950 North American T-28A Trojan, VH-VBT (s/n 50-221), suffered the collapse of its nose landing gear just as it began taxiing at Toowoomba, Australia. Neither the pilot nor his passenger were injured. [News article and photo>>]

• 11 May: A Boeing PT-17/A75N Stearman, N71327 (c/n 75-756), departed the runway during its landing roll and struck a tree in Weirsdale, Florida, USA. Neither occupant was injured.

• 13 May: A 1943 North American T-6D Texan, N299CM (s/n 49-2912), went off the runway after landing at Anchorage, Alaska, USA, and struck runway lights. No damage to the aircraft was reported.

• 18 May: A single-seat Hawker Hunter Mk. 58, N321AX, operated by the Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) under government contract, crashed in a field three miles from Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station, near Camarillo, California, USA. The civilian pilot was killed. The pilot had reportedly completed a mission and was returning to base as part of a "flight of two" when the accident occurred. The other aircraft landed safely.

• 18 May: A 1981 Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros, N39WT, crashed shortly after takeoff from Boulder City, Nevada, USA. Witnesses reported the aircraft appeared to lose power shortly after takeoff. Noted warbird instructor Doug Gilliss and a passenger were killed when the aircraft "pancaked" in the desert near the airport.

• 18 May: The Collings Foundation announced the debut of its replica Messerschmitt Me262 jet fighter ("White 1") at Moffett Field, California, USA. The foundation hopes to offer educational flights in the aircraft later this fall.

• 19 May: A 1967 Hughes TH-55 Osage helicopter, N74914 (c/n 67-15442), rolled onto its side after landing at Pittsfield, Pennsylvania, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 22 May: The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) has announced they will ask the Federal Aviation Administration for permission to modify the Reno Unlimited Class race course by softening some of the turns and moving the course farther away from spectators. The changes were based on the recommendations of an independent review panel that was tasked with developing safety improvements at the annual event, following last September's tragic crash. The organization also announced that they have secured $100 million in insurance for the event. [News article>>]

• 22 May: The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has called for a public meeting next month to address the issue of rides being given in non-Standard Category aircraft (warbirds). The FAA's current policy, called the "Living History Flight Experience (LHFE)" exemption, allows operators to sell rides in aircraft such as the B-17 and B-24 which were manufactured before 1947. Other operators of vintage jets, and warbirds built after 1947, have applied for exemptions under the LHFE rules, and the FAA has called for this meeting to discuss the expansion of the policy. The meeting will be held in Washington DC on 26-28 June 2012. A public comment period is now open. For more information, see our Threats page.

• 26 May: Consolidated B-24A/LB-30 Liberator N24927 (s/n 40-2366, "Diamond Lil") suffered the collapse of its nose landing gear during the landing roll at Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, after the crew spent nearly an hour dealing with a landing gear/hydraulic system malfunction. None of the 16 people on board was injured, and the aircraft is expected to be repaired quickly.

• 27 May: Prolific aircraft collector Merle Maine has announced that he is selling his collection, based in Ontario, Oregon, USA. The collection includes numerous types, including an F-104 Starfighter, F-86 Sabre, A-4 Skyhawk, L-39 Albatros, T-33 Shooting Star, MiG-21, MiG-23, deHavilland Vampire, two Grumman S-2 Trackers, and more. [Trade-A-Plane listing>>]

• 28 May: A 1949 North American SNJ/T-6G Texan, N3753G (c/n 493177), crashed shortly after takeoff from a private airfield near Byron, Michigan, USA. The pilot's wife, who was a passenger, was killed after the plane struck a nearby barn. The aircraft was destroyed. [Local news coverage>>]

• 30 May: A 1949 Hawker T Mk.20 Sea Fury, N71GB, (c/n 37525, "Sawbones"), suffered the collapse of its landing gear on landing rollout in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Minor damage was reported.

• 30 May: The Chino, California-based Planes of Fame Air Museum announced that the Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress known as "Swamp Ghost" (s/n 41-2446) will be moving to the Pacific Air Museum in Hawaii. [Swamp Ghost's home page>>]

June 2012:

• 2 June: A Heinkel He-115 seaplane torpedo-bomber was raised from the water of a fjord near Sola, Norway after resting at the bottom for over 70 years. [Photo gallery>>] [Slideshow>>]

• 3 June: A 1955 Lockheed P2V Neptune aerial tanker (N41447, s/n 135587, "Tanker 11"), operated by Neptune Aviation, crashed during an air assault on a forest fire near the Nevada/Utah border. Both crewmembers were killed. [News report>>]

• 3 June: Another Lockheed SP2H Neptune firebomber, this one registered N355MA ("Tanker 55") made an emergency landing at Minden, Nevada, USA, after the pilots could not extend the left main landing gear. The aircraft suffered minor damage, but the crew was not injured.

• 3 June: A rare Fairey Firefly AS Mk.VI N518WB (Ex-WB-518) suffered an apparent failure of its landing gear during its landing roll at an airshow at El Cajon, California, USA. The aircraft came to rest in the dirt alongside the runway. The pilot was not injured, and the aircraft is believed to be repairable.

• 6 June: The EAA's B-17 Flying Fortress, Aluminum Overcast, was slightly damaged by an unexpected hailstorm in Denver, Colorado, USA. The hail damaged the aircraft's fabric flight-control surfaces, but thanks to the hard work of some volunteers, the parts were replaced within a few days. [Story and photos>>]

• 8 June: A 1942 Ryan PT-22/ST3KR, N721R (c/n 1840), went off the runway and into a ditch after landing at Norwalk, Ohio, USA. Neither the pilot nor the passenger were injured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.

• 10 June: A 1964 Hispano HA-200 Saeta jet, N632HA (c/n E.14A-32), lost its left wingtip tank while in flight. The aircraft landed at Everett, Washington, USA without further difficulties.

• 11 June: A North American SNJ-4/AT-6C Texan, N7055K (c/n 50-709E), landed in a field and flipped over near Delmar, Delaware, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 14 June: A 1985 Yakovlev Yak-52, N76YK (c/n 855706), suffered the collapse of its nose landing gear on landing at Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. No injuries were reported.

• 15 June: A Canadair CT-133/T-33 Silver Star Mk.3, C-FUPM (s/n 133346), operated by the Jet Aircraft Museum, landed short of the runway in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The jet's left landing gear was sheared off, and the aircraft came to rest off the side of the runway in the grass. Neither the pilot nor the passenger were injured.

• 18 June: A 1941 Boeing A75 Stearman, N59334 (c/n 75-1606), went off the side of the runway and ground-looped during landing at Glencoe, Minnesota, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 23 June: A 1940 de Havilland DH-82 Tiger Moth, N523R (formerly G-ANEI, c/n 82960) made an emergency landing in a field in Fontana, California, USA. The aircraft came to rest inverted and suffered substantial damage. There were no reported injuries to either the pilot or passenger.

• 26 June: A 1941 Boeing B75N Stearman, N50082 (c/n 75-1037), flipped over on landing near Fredericksburg, Texas, USA. The pilot was not injured, but the plane was substantially damaged.

• 26 June: A 1963 Bell UH-1F Iroquois helicopter, N4582D (c/n 63-13163), came in contact with power lines during sling load operations, and one member of the crew was seriously injured. The incident happened near Concrete, Washington, USA.

• 30 June: An Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatros jet (ZU-HIT) crashed during a formation aerobatic performance at the Klerksdorp Airshow in South Africa. The aircraft appeared to perform a loaded (high-G) roll during a low-altitude pullout from a split-S maneuver. The pilot was killed.

July 2012:

• 10 July: A North American-Rockwell OV-10 Bronco, G-BZGK, operated by the civilian Bronco Demo Team, crashed at Cotswold Airport, Gloucestershire, UK, during a flight demonstration practice. The pilot suffered significant injuries, but is expected to survive.

• 12 July: A Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21MF Fishbed, N9307, rolled off the end of the runway after landing in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA and suffering the failure of its braking parachute. The aircraft went through a fence and came to rest on a nearby road with at least one of its landing gear collapsed or sheared off. The aircraft was substantially damaged, but the pilot was not injured.

• 15 July: A 1982 IAR 825 Triumpf, N825BA, crashed in a corn field near Peru, Illinois, USA, after losing power while on approach to land. The pilot was not injured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged. This aircraft is the only prototype of a turbine-powered version of the better-known Romanian trainer, the IAR-823.

• 22 July: A 1959 Dornier Do27, N780AX (c/n 391), was substantially damaged after crashing near Jackson, Wyoming, USA. Neither the pilot nor the passenger were injured.

• 26 July: A 1971 Bell OH-58C Kiowa helicopter, N8092J (s/n 70-15363) was damaged after a rotor blade struck a powerline near Waukon, Iowa, USA.

• 28 July: A 1973 Nanchang CJ-6A, N96YK (c/n 1232007), crashed on approach to an airfield near Walsenburg, Colorado, USA, killing the pilot and his son.

• 30 July: Florida-based Draken International has won a bid to buy nine Aermacchi MB-339 advanced fighter trainers from the government of New Zealand. These aircraft, in addition to the company's previous acquisitions of eight Douglas A-4 Skyhawk fighter/attack aircraft, 29 MiG-21UM and MiG-21BIS Fishbed/Mongol supersonic fighters, and five L-39 Albatros fighter/trainers, make Draken the largest fleet of privately-owned tactical jet aircraft in the world. The aircraft are to be used for government contract work. Draken's CEO is also the owner of (and a pilot with) the popular Black Diamonds Jet Team. [Draken International website]

August 2012:

• 4 August: Noted airshow performer Kent Pietsch was injured in the crash of his 1942 Interstate S-1 / L-6 Cadet, N37428, in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada. The incident happened after the airshow, as Pietsch was flying at low altitude while searching for the foam aileron he routinely drops as a part of his airshow act. He reportedly lost power and could not reach the runway.

• 4 August: A Piaggio/Focke-Wulf P.149D, D-EGIT, was substantially damaged after losing engine power and hitting a barn during a forced landing near Hollandscheveld, Netherlands. Both occupants of the airplane and an occupant of the building were injured.

• 9 August: The first U.S. flight of a restored Ilyushin IL-2 Shturmovik has taken place at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, USA. Noted warbird pilot Steve Hinton took the aircraft on its shakedown flight for its new owner, the Flying Heritage Collection. The aircraft was rebuilt from parts of no fewer than four IL-2 wrecks recovered during the past 20 years in Russia.

• 12 August: A deHavilland DH-82 Tiger Moth, G-AHLT, crashed in a field near Maeshafn, North Wales, UK, after it hit trees while the pilot was attempting to land on a short, sloping pasture. The pilot was not injured, but the airplane was substantially damaged.

• 12 August: Another deHaviland DH-82 Tiger Moth, G-ANFV, suffered substantial damage after a forced landing near Duffas, Scotland.

• 13 August: The vintage aircraft collection of the late Howard Pardue is up for sale. The aircraft available include a Grumman FM-2 Wildcat and a Hawker Sea Fury. [See listings at Ezell Aviation]

• 18 August: A 1943 Boeing B75N Stearman, N47964, ground-looped upon landing in Mesa, Arizona, USA. The pilot was not injured, and only minor damage to the airplane was reported.

• 18 August: A 1940 Fleet 16B Finch biplane, N343SF (c/n 343), flipped over on landing at Bayport, New York, USA. The plane was substantially damaged. Neither the pilot nor passenger were injured.

• 22 August: The Coulson Group of British Columbia, Canada has announced that one of the only two remaining Martin JRM Mars seaplane firebombers, C-FLYK ("Philippine Mars"), will go on permanent display at the National Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The huge transport aircraft is being repainted in its original navy blue paint scheme, and readied for one last flight. [News article>>]

• 22 August: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has publicly released 45 documents related to their investigation of the fatal P-51 race crash in Reno in 2011. The documents include various technical analysis papers, flight recorder data, witness photos, and more. [NTSB Docket 51746 >>]

• 31 August: A 1944 North American T-6F Texan, N244GR (c/n 121-42642), ground-looped on takeoff at Council Bluffs, Iowa, USA. Neither the pilot nor the passenger were injured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.

September 2012:

• 1 September: A 1984 Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatros, N139GS, crashed during a formation airshow performance at Davenport, Iowa, USA. Owner/pilot Glenn Smith was killed. [Editor's note: This is one of those times when reporting the news on this page is particularly difficult. Glenn was a good friend of ours and a respected aviator in the warbird community. Our sincere condolences to Glenn's family, friends, and fellow "Hoppers." He will be sorely missed.] 

• 1 September: A Cessna L-19E Birddog, N4431F, ground-looped upon landing in Dallas, Texas, USA, collapsing the landing gear. The pilot was not injured.

• 2 September: A 1952 Douglas AD-1N Skyraider, N965AD, struck a sign during a takeoff from Everett, Washington, USA. Damage to the aircraft is unknown.

• 7 September: Famed pilot, racer, and vintage aircraft restorer Bob Odegaard was killed in the crash of a 1945 Goodyear F2G Super Corsair, N5577N (c/n 6172, Race #74), in Valley City, North Dakota, USA. He was reportedly performing a barrel roll during a practice flight for the following day's airshow when the accident occurred. [Editor's note: It's another tough weekend for the warbird community. Bob will be greatly missed -- our condolences to the numerous people Bob influenced over the years.]

• 8 September: A 1943 Beechcraft C-45 ended up in a ditch at a private airfield in Suffolk, Virginia, USA, after its brakes failed during a maintenance check. The pilot was not injured.

• 11 September: A 1951 Hawker FB.11 Sea Fury, N4434P ("Furias"), suffered the collapse of its right main landing gear on landing at Reno, Nevada, USA, during the National Championship Air Races. Pilot Matt Jackson was not injured.

• 13 September: A 1942 Fairchild PT-19A Cornell, N19GP, crashed while making a low approach at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA. The pilot and his passenger, a reporter for a local newspaper, were not seriously injured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.

• 15 September: An Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatros, ES-YLS (c/n 691881), operated by the Breitling Jet Team, crashed in a field near Valkenswaard, Netherlands after engine problems during a ferry flight. Both the pilot and his passenger (a team mechanic) ejected successfully. The aircraft was destroyed. 

• 16 September: A Yakovlev Yak-52, N2207X, crashed near Huntsville, Alabama, USA, killing the owner/pilot and a passenger. Circumstances of the accident are not known, but the aircraft was seen maneuvering during a fly-in event.

• 19 September: A Boeing A75/PT-17 Stearman, N4777V, ground-looped on landing in Lincoln, California, USA. Neither occupant was injured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.

• 30 September: A 1952 Hawker FB.11 Sea Fury, N878M ("Miss Merced"), landed gear-up at Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA. The pilot was not injured.

October 2012:

• 12 October: A 1955 Sikorsky S-55B/H-19 Chickasaw helicopter, N443FD (s/n 55-1046), made a hard landing in a field near Yorktown, New York, USA, after suffering a power loss. The aircraft rolled over on its side during the accident, but neither occupant was injured. [Local news, with photo>>]

• 29 October: A Mach 2+ Panavia Tornado F.3 fighter-bomber appeared for sale in several aviation-industry publications. Though the aircraft is largely complete, it is advertised in "museum display condition" rather than "airworthy" condition. It is believed to be the only Tornado in private ownership in the world. [See the ad>>]

November 2012:

• 4 November: A Yakovlev / Aerostar Yak-52W, N767RG (c/n 0012208), force-landed in a field near Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The sole occupant was not injured. Damage to the aircraft is unknown.

• 5 November: A Hawker Hunter, believed to be operated by a government contractor, suffered the collapse of its landing gear upon landing at Pt. Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center, California, USA. The pilot was not injured.

• 10 November: A 1943 Boeing E75 Stearman, N1370V, was involved in a mid-air collision with a Vans RV-12 while the aircraft were flying in formation near Williamson, Georgia, USA. Both aircraft landed safely. Damage to the Stearman's rudder was reported.

• 20 November: The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has revoked the pilot's certificate of notorious pilot Dave Riggs, who was involved in a recent fatal accident involving an L-39 jet that was allegedly used in an illegal commercial "adventure ride" program. Among his other accomplishments, Riggs also used an L-39 to "buzz" a Santa Monica, California beach pier in 2008; organized an air race that was grounded by the FAA for safety concerns; and was involved in another fatal L-39 accident involving a movie production.

• 20 November: A 1941 Boeing A75 Stearman, N56226, lost power after takeoff from an airfield near San Antonio, Texas, USA. Neither the pilot nor passenger were injured, but the aircraft was damaged after crashing into trees and a fence.

December 2012:

• 5 December: Aero Union Corporation is auctioning off its remaining inventory of seven modified Lockheed P-3A Orion airtanker aircraft. The auction also includes engines, spare parts, maintenance gear, and MAFFS aerial firefighting equipment. The aircraft have been active for many years, battling forest fires for the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry. [Auction information>>]

• 5 December: A Douglas C-47TP Dakota, operated by 35 Squadron of the South African Air Force, crashed in the Drakensberg mountain range in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, killing all 11 people on board. Poor weather conditions were reported in the area. This aircraft has been used as a support aircraft for the SAAF's Silver Falcons airshow display team, as well as in numerous other utility roles. [Commemorative photo issued by the team>>]

• 5 December: Yet another WWII aircraft has been recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan. This one, a Grumman FM-2 Wildcat, crashed in December 1944 while practicing carrier landings. It will eventually be sent to the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida, for restoration. The aircraft is currently available for public viewing in Kenosha, Wisconsin. [EAA news story>>]

• 8 December: A North American T-28C Trojan, N280JM (Bu.No. 140589), landed gear-up in a field near Temple, Texas, USA. The pilot and passenger suffered minor injuries.

• 13 December: A 1971 Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin, N29NR (c/n 1941440, crashed into a field near Scurry, Texas, USA, killing both the owner/pilot and the passenger. Circumstances of the accident are not known, but it was reported that the passenger was receiving a ride that he had won in an auction. [News report>>]

January 2013:

• 7 January: A Supermarine PR Mk. XIX Spitfire, G-RRGN, suffered the collapse of its landing gear during landing at East Midlands Airport, UK. The pilot was not injured. The aircraft, recently restored for Rolls-Royce, is believed to be readily repairable. [BBC news report>>]

• 15 January: Noted warbird pilot, former Reno racer, and Airshow Competency Evaluator (ACE) Fred Cabanas was killed in the crash of a non-warbird light plane near Cozumel, Mexico.  [Godspeed, Freddy. -Ed.]

• 19 January: A Nanchang CJ-6A, N5616N (c/n 5632016), landed gear-up at Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. The pilot was not injured.

February 2013:

• 6 February: A 1966 Hispano HA-200 Saeta Jet, N390WW, suffered the collapse of its landing gear during a landing at North Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained only minor damage.

• 6 February: A Hiller UH-12B/OH-23 helicopter, N5072R, made a hard landing at Merritt Island, Florida, USA after a loss of power. One person was injured.

• 6 February: In a surprise move, the U.S. National Park Service ordered the immediate closure of the delightful Pearson Air Museum, located on historic Fort Vancouver, Washington, USA. A press release from the Trust which operated the museum said the closure was the result of "an unresolved dispute with the National Parks Service regarding park use policy." The local public is encouraged to contact their Senators and Congressmen at the numbers listed in the museum's press release (.PDF document) to resolve the issue.

March 2013:

• 13 March: A group of  business leaders in Wichita, Kansas, USA has united to form "Doc's Friends," a group dedicated to the restoration to flight status of "Doc," a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber. Doc spent 42 years on a bombing-range in China Lake, California, and was rescued from an uncertain fate several years ago. [More information>>]

• 26 March: A Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter, N910WC (s/n 67-16372) crashed near Caddo, Texas, USA. A passenger was killed after the aircraft lost control while hovering over a stock tank and then plunged into the water. The pilot suffered only minor injuries.

April 2013:

• 16 April: A deHaviland DH.82A Tiger Moth (ZS-OSS, c/n 82982) crashed into the water in Mmabatho, South Africa during a landing approach. Both occupants were killed.

• 19 April: A Siai-Marchetti SF-260W, N224AP, landed gear-up at San Rafael, California, USA. Neither the pilot nor his passenger were injured.

• 20 April: A 1942 Boeing A75N1Stearman, N985SS (c/n 75-3431), force-landed in a vineyard near Santa Rosa, California. USA, ending up inverted. The pilot was not injured.

• 24 April: A 1953 North American/CCF Harvard IV, C-FMWN (c/n CCF4 267) suffered the loss of its left brake after landing in Delta, British Columbia, Canada. The aircraft departed the side of the runway and the left main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft came to rest in a ditch. Neither occupant was injured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged.

May 2013:

• 5 May: A Hispano Aviacion HA-200D Saeta jet, EC-DXR (c/n 20-56), crashed into a hangar during an airshow near Madrid, Spain. The 34-year old pilot died at the hospital, and several people at the scene were reported to be injured. The aircraft appeared to perform a slow-speed wingover-type maneuver, and did not recover before ground impact.

   

   
   
   

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