B-17 crash

[Kaido]

Dang, I just drove past there...

Seven dead after a WWII-era B-17 bomber crash at a Connecticut airport

A total of 13 people -- 10 passengers and three crew members -- were on board when the vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress crashed at the end of a runway as its pilot tried to land, authorities said.

www.cnn.com

 

[Kaido]

Looks like pretty much only the tail section is left...6 patients to the hospital so far.

 

[whm1974]

Considering how old the B-17 bombers, I hope the fuselage and wings are properly tested for airworthiness before flight. Not mention modern safety systems are install as well.

Too early to tell, but maybe pilot error may have caused the crash?

 

[BoomerD]

I saw that earlier this morning. What a shame...wonderful piece of American military history.

 

[deadlyapp]

Damn looks like it came down right on top of some storage tanks. Must not have been flammable, as that could have made a very big problem.

 

[zinfamous]

I hope Harrison Ford is OK!

 

[spacejamz]

after seeing the pictures, hard to believe anyone survived....there 10 passengers and 3 crew aboard...the last I heard was 5 fatalities....

 

[Kaido]

after seeing the pictures, hard to believe anyone survived....there 10 passengers and 3 crew aboard...the last I heard was 5 fatalities....

They said 14 injured total plus fatalities

 

[Kaido]

It's crazy, I was just looking at tickets last week...a 30-minute ride in the B-17 was $450, a little pricey for me but that would have been an amazing experience. I don't know if they were flying in for the airshow or giving people rides today. They said a couple of our state firefighters were onboard

 

[Exterous]

Damn although I admit, a little selfishly, that I am glad it's not the one that flies over my house from time to time

but that would have been an amazing experience.

It is

 

[spacejamz]

I read on one of the news articles that they might ground all WWII aircraft until they figured out what happened...can't remember which article/site mentioned that...

 

[Kaido]

3 crew, 10 passengers. 14 injured - everyone on the plane, plus one person the ground. 7 dead. Horrible day

At least seven people are dead after World War II-era B-17 bomber crashed into an airport de-icing facility today while trying to land at Connecticut's Bradley International Airport, according to James Rovella, commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Thirteen people — 10 passengers and three crew members — were on board when the vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress crashed today at the end of a runway, authorities said.

Fourteen people were injured, including everyone on the plane and at least one person on the ground. It was not immediately clear whether those killed were on the plane or on the ground. At least five patients were taken to Hartford Hospital after the crash, Hartford HealthCare spokesman Shawn Mawhiney said.

 

[TheVrolok]

Saw this yesterday, what a shame. Shame for those lost/injured, and a shame for that historic aircraft.

 

[allisolm]

Amazingly enough, sad as it is that 7 died, it appears six people on the plane survived, and only one person on the ground was injured.

Seven dead after a WWII-era B-17 bomber crash at a Connecticut airport

A total of 13 people -- 10 passengers and three crew members -- were on board when the vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress crashed at the end of a runway as its pilot tried to land, authorities said.

www.cnn.com

 

[pauldun170]

Considering how old the B-17 bombers, I hope the fuselage and wings are properly tested for airworthiness before flight. Not mention modern safety systems are install as well.

Too early to tell, but maybe pilot error may have caused the crash?

FAA mandates wing spar inspections.
The planes are pretty stout and it doesn't sound like structural issue. Sounds like they had a bit of engine trouble and potentially a bit of turbulence. If I had to guess based on minimal info, I'd go with engine failure leading to handling difficulties mixed with Pilot error.
Sounds like plane landed....just a not where it was supposed to and it hit some equipment that resulted in them losing control on the ground.
Summary.
Landed fine.....just in the wrong spot.

 

[spacejamz]

article about the crash victims

Ernest “Mac” McCauley, 75, had 7,300 hours of flight time on the B-17, according to NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy. That made McCauley the most experienced B-17 pilot in the nation.

The pilot. The police officer. ‘The best person I’ve ever known.’ Profiles emerge of B-17 crash victims.

Profiles began to emerge Thursday of the 13 people aboard a World War II B-17G bomber that crashed Wednesday morning at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks. The pilot of the bomber, Erne…

www.courant.com

 

[dank69]

Is it possible someone put the wrong fuel type in it? From what I understand that plane can fly even with 2 engines out. I guess the pilot reported that they were unable to gain altitude, turned around and tried to land. I also heard that the landing gear clipped a building as they passed over it.

 

[Kaido]

 

[Artorias]

Regardless if it was human error or not, at 75 years that plane should be in the museum and not risking the lives of its passengers.

 

[Kaido]

Regardless if it was human error or not, at 75 years that plane should be in the museum and not risking the lives of its passengers.

The machines are actually extremely well-maintained. And despite aviation advances, they are good designs, so if you know what you're doing, you can fly them perfectly safely.

But yeah, it's a 75-year-old hunk of metal in the sky. Yikes!

 

[Muse]

not me, babe...

 

[db]

A B-17 can fly on 1 engine. Cite: my stepfather who was a B-17 pilot, shot down 5 times.