Regular pilots at the time had just been cleared to go off SBA and had an accident, rolled car, killing one school teacher, and were in hospital.
Replacement pilot tried the spiral climb over quarters trick - hoofed it left on rotation and stalled/side slipped into the ground. Impacted beside the tower and two underwing tanks went on into the Ops block. Explosion took out the bottom of the tower and all comms, but the guys in local were OK.
IIRC someone (rock ape?) got a medal for fast thinking and driving a vehicle through the rear wall of the Ops block to let those trapped inside out.
The seat was left tarpaulined for a couple of days until they flew in a specialist to safe it.
Luckiest guys were a Vulcan crew who had also had a car crash the previous day. They were at TPMH, otherwise they would have been in Ops briefing.
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Last edited by ORAC; 25th April 2007 at 22:03.