Since I don't frequent the ANN site unless someone brings up a special
story there I didn't see this but Bruce Frank just send me an E-Mail
with the story which I am including here. Many participants in this
newgroup including myself knew Badwater Bill (aka: Bill Phillips) and
either loved him, hated him, or a experienced a combination of both
emotions. What is certain is that we will never forget him. There is
a poster on my office wall that probably is the essence of Badwater
Bill and his life......

Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-
preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out,
shouting "HOLY ****.....WHAT A RIDE!"

http://www.angelfire.com/nv/rvpilot/

Somehow, I can hear him shouting just that as he went down. God Speed
my friend and may you soar with the eagles from now on. Please
include Janice (aka: Boom-Boom) in your prayers for a swift and
complete recovery.

Bob



Pilot Lost In Lancair Downing Near Southern UT Airport

Wife Survives, Severely Injured In Saturday Accident

The pilot of a Lancair Legacy was killed, and his passenger
critically injured, when the aircraft crashed for unknown reasons
Saturday afternoon in southern Utah.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports William Phillips and his wife, Janice,
took off from Parowan Airport (IL9) bound for Las Vegas, NV. Initial
reports state the aircraft experienced mechanical trouble soon thereafter.

Iron County Sheriff Mark Gower said the aircraft crashed about one
mile north of the runway, at around 1:45 pm local time Saturday.
Gower said it appears the pilot was attempting to return to the
airport when the aircraft (shown below) crashed.

"It looks like it came in nose first," Gower said. "At this point,
it is speculated that the crash was caused by mechanical failure."

Investigator Tony Gower told the St. George Daily Spectrum the
aircraft largely disintegrated on impact. "It didn't burn, but the
plane hit the ground at a high rate of speed," he said.

Local reports state Bill Phillips survived the initial crash, but
later died at the scene. His wife was airlifted to a hospital in
Murray, UT with broken bones and internal injuries. She is presently
listed in critical condition.

The FAA and NTSB were on the scene Sunday to conduct parallel
investigations into the accident.

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 151HT Make/Model: EXP Description: LANCAIR LEGACY
Date: 10/18/2008 Time: 1903

Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
City: PAROWAN State: UT Country: US

DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE WERE TWO PERSONS ON
BOARD, ONE WAS FATALLY INJURED, AND ONE SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES,
PAROWAN, UT

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 1 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: CDC 181953Z METAR AUTO 17010G21KT 10SM CLR 23/M07 A3021

OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER

FAA FSDO: SALT LAKE CITY, UT (NM07) Entry date: 10/20/2008

E-I-C Note: I hate this.One of the tragedies of aviation is that the
boundless joys of flight are occasionally tempered by tragedies of
incalculable measure.

The Bill Phillips involved in this story is my friend, "Badwater
Bill." An accomplished aviator and a person with more opinions than
any ten people I know, losing Bill at the "tender" age of 59 is a
huge low... and leaves me looking for the right thing to say... and
not finding it.

Bill and I started our friendship in the worst possible way (NOT as
friends) and through a ponderous series of events, came to value the
common bond that ties flyers together... as well as the amazing
discourses we ventured upon at various times. Over time, we became
really good buddies and got involved in some truly wild shenanigans.
Bill was possibly the most unique personality I have ever met, an
amazing mind and an irascible old coot who once made me promise that
if I ever had to write his obit, that I had to be sure to tell
everyone what a 'rat bast*rd' he was.

I can't do it.

Aviation is an amazing community, for all manner of reasons... but
it is the variety of personalities that flock to it that are
potentially its greatest resource... and Bill was easily one of the
most remarkable souls I've ever met.

I'll miss him like hell... and the one thing I can promise is that
I'll never forget him. We offer his wife, Janice, our sincere wishes
for a full and speedy recovery and our prayers that the days ahead
are somewhat softened by the fact there were a lot of people who
liked/loved Bill, or were amused by Bill and/or couldn't forget Bill
if they tried (and yeah, I think he'd like that description).

Fair winds, Bill... it was a privilege to know ya... -- Jim
Campbell, ANN E-I-C.