Hughes Racer Replica Lost

damn.

http://www.trib.com/AP/wire_detail.php?wire_num=113724

"James Wright, 53, of Cottage Grove, Ore., died when the plane, a
replica of the Hughes H-1, crashed about 6:30 p.m. Monday in Midway
Geyser Basin about five miles north of Old Faithful, park officials
said.
....
The plane approached from the west about treetop level just south of
the basin parking area, officials said. It apparently struck on the
west side of the Firehole River and came to rest on the east near the
main park road, which was closed for about five hours after the crash.

The airplane burst into flame upon impact, but the fire was quickly
extinguished by park staff."


Sounds like an attemped forced landing on the riverbank? Anyone
familiar with the area? The reporter clearly has no clue about
controllable-pitch props:


"Wright, who had been flying planes for 30 years, stopped in Gillette
to refuel about 90 minutes before the crash.

''The air's thin enough here that the propeller gets stuck in low
gear,'' he told The Gillette News-Record. ''I'm just trying to get
home.''

Wright had been having problems switching gears as he flew over
northeastern Wyoming but had planned to stop in Gillette to refuel
anyway, the newspaper reported.

Shortly before flying out of Gillette-Campbell County Airport, he said
he was going to attempt to take off in second gear. Whether gear
problems were responsible for the crash is unclear. The FAA said the
cause is not known."