B-17 landing accident today, Van Nuys, Calif.

Channel 2 in Los Angeles had their news helicopter taping the landing
of a B-17 at the Van Nuys airport this afternoon and got more
excitement than expected. The plane's main landing gear collapsed on
both sides during rollout. According to the TV station's copter pilot,
the B-17 is named "Aluminum Overcast" and is owned and operated by the
EAA.

http://cbs2.com/california/CA--Belly...rces_news_html

In the video the tailwheel could be seen oscillating heavily and
continuously for several seconds before the mains collapsed. Both
wings dropped to the runway almost simultaneously, the right a split
second before the left. The B-17 came to rest near the runway
centerline.

--

Paul Hirose
To reply by email delete INVALID from address.

In article ,
Paul Hirose wrote:

Channel 2 in Los Angeles had their news helicopter taping the landing
of a B-17 at the Van Nuys airport this afternoon and got more
excitement than expected. The plane's main landing gear collapsed on
both sides during rollout. According to the TV station's copter pilot,
the B-17 is named "Aluminum Overcast" and is owned and operated by the
EAA.

http://cbs2.com/california/CA--Belly...rces_news_html

In the video the tailwheel could be seen oscillating heavily and
continuously for several seconds before the mains collapsed. Both
wings dropped to the runway almost simultaneously, the right a split
second before the left. The B-17 came to rest near the runway
centerline.

Really odd that both mains would collapse since they are completely
independant systems...the only thing common is the switch in the
cockpit. That switch happens to be right next to the flap switch.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

"Dale" == Dale writes:

Dale In article ,
Dale Paul Hirose wrote:

Channel 2 in Los Angeles had their news helicopter taping the
landing of a B-17 at the Van Nuys airport this afternoon and
...

Dale Really odd that both mains would collapse since they are
Dale completely independant systems...the only thing common is
Dale the switch in the cockpit. That switch happens to be right
Dale next to the flap switch.

Oh, big oops if that's the cause!
--
G Hassenpflug * IJN & JMSDF equipment/history fan

Channel 2 in Los Angeles had their news helicopter taping the landing
of a B-17 at the Van Nuys airport this afternoon and got more
excitement than expected. The plane's main landing gear collapsed on
both sides during rollout. According to the TV station's copter pilot,
the B-17 is named "Aluminum Overcast" and is owned and operated by the
EAA.


I think I saw that plane yesterday. I was at the Santa Barbara airport,
fueling and getting another retardant load put on the plane, when I saw a B-17
and B-24 fly over the airport in formation, at pattern altitude.


Ron
Tanker 65, C-54E (DC-4)
Silver City Tanker Base

The Channel 2 news aired a crew member interview this afternoon:


HARRISON: It was so sudden that you don't have much time to think.

REPORTER: William Harrison is the former owner of this B-17 Flying
Fortress and was in the copilot seat when, 26 seconds after touchdown,
the front gear suddenly collapsed.

HARRISON: We followed all of our procedures. We had the gear down, the
green light to show that it was down, we looked outside to confirm it,
and so we didn't expect anything.

REPORTER: And Harrison says they still don't know exactly why the gear
gave way.


Footage taken today showed the B-17 sitting on the ramp at Van Nuys,
gear down, but with 4 aircraft jacks apparently supporting the plane.

According to an EAA spokesman quoted in the L.A. Daily News, its
"Salute to Veterans" national tour may be cancelled.

http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1...129868,00.html

--

Paul Hirose
To reply by email delete INVALID from address.

In article ,
362436 (Ron) wrote:


I think I saw that plane yesterday. I was at the Santa Barbara airport,
fueling and getting another retardant load put on the plane, when I saw a B-17
and B-24 fly over the airport in formation, at pattern altitude.

The B-17 you saw was the Nine-O-Nine since it travels with the B-24
Dragon and His Tail.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

That's a bummer. I had a chance to fly a hop in this aircraft two
summers ago - nothing like sitting in the bombardier's seat, surrounded
by plexiglass and watching the countryside rush by!

-Jim C.

Paul Hirose wrote:

The Channel 2 news aired a crew member interview this afternoon:

HARRISON: It was so sudden that you don't have much time to think.

REPORTER: William Harrison is the former owner of this B-17 Flying
Fortress and was in the copilot seat when, 26 seconds after touchdown,
the front gear suddenly collapsed.

HARRISON: We followed all of our procedures. We had the gear down, the
green light to show that it was down, we looked outside to confirm it,
and so we didn't expect anything.

REPORTER: And Harrison says they still don't know exactly why the gear
gave way.

Footage taken today showed the B-17 sitting on the ramp at Van Nuys,
gear down, but with 4 aircraft jacks apparently supporting the plane.

According to an EAA spokesman quoted in the L.A. Daily News, its
"Salute to Veterans" national tour may be cancelled.

http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1...129868,00.html

--

Paul Hirose
To reply by email delete INVALID from address.

On Fri, 07 May 2004 21:19:01 -0400, Jim Calpin
wrote:

That's a bummer. I had a chance to fly a hop in this aircraft two
summers ago - nothing like sitting in the bombardier's seat, surrounded
by plexiglass and watching the countryside rush by!

Hear! Hear! About 10 years ago, I had the thrill of riding aboard the
B-17 (Nine O Nine) flown by the Collings Foundation. We flew from
Burbank to Torrance. You're right about the bombardier's chair--he had
the best ride on the plane.

Dale wrote:

In article ,
362436 (Ron) wrote:


I think I saw that plane yesterday. I was at the Santa Barbara airport,
fueling and getting another retardant load put on the plane, when I saw
a B-17 and B-24 fly over the airport in formation, at pattern altitude.

The B-17 you saw was the Nine-O-Nine since it travels with the B-24
Dragon and His Tail.

Is "Dragon and his Tail" the same B-24 that used to be painted as "All
American"? Collings Foundation, right?
--
Marc Reeve
actual email address after removal of 4s & spaces is
c4m4r4a4m4a4n a4t c4r4u4z4i4o d4o4t c4o4m

In article ,
(Marc Reeve) wrote:



Is "Dragon and his Tail" the same B-24 that used to be painted as "All
American"? Collings Foundation, right?

Yes, the same airplane...the ONLY flying B-24.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html