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Old 7th Nov 2015, 08:20
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Basil
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: UK.
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Beware flying LL over glassy sea

Briton's death in vintage plane crash was 'accidental' - Telegraph

John Stephen Busby was taking a flight in the vintage World War II plane to celebrate his anniversary when it crashed into the sea off Texas, killing him and the pilot

The plane’s on-board video was analysed and the pilot, Keith Hibbert, 51, asked John if he wanted to fly the plane. Geophysicist John, from Woldingham, Surrey, said: “Yes I do, if you guide me through it. I’m not a pilot.”

The plane was then seen by fisherman Randall Groves descending towards the water at speed.

Mr Wickens said the "glass-like" quality of the water beneath them may have fooled the pilot into not realising just how low they were flying.
Recollect a Hastings captain remarking to his co-pilot how difficult it was to judge height above a glassy sea just before there was a bang and the two inner props were bent. They survived.
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