Thread: Courious Crash
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Old December 19th 06, 03:51 AM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
john smith
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Default Courious Crash

Sunday evening, 17 December, a small plane crashed two miles south of
the Bucyrus Ohio airport (17G). A family of four (father, mother, two
children) died in the crash. There was minor damage to an apartment
building from flying debris, and no injuries to those on the ground.
The husband and wife are reported to have been pilot rated and
preliminary reports describe the aircraft as a 60's/70's Comanche.
Witnesses on the ground reported the engine sputtering and seeing sparks
coming from the airplane prior to the crash.
The aircraft had departed Oklahoma earlier in the afternoon.

Q: what are the possible ranges of various models of Comanche's?

My speculation...
Oklahoma to Bucyrus Ohio is a long haul. If the engine is sputtering, I
am guessing fuel exhaustion.
That it was within two miles of the airport makes me strongly think they
were stretching it.
Tulsa OK to Bucyrus OH is 665 nm. Fuel burn on a Comanche 260 is what?
14 per hour?
Cruise speed is 160 kts?
That gives about five hours and 700 nm.
How close am I?