T-6 Crash in Florida

[Machinbird]

It seems that we have lost a T-6 near Williston Florida with 2 fatalities.
T-6 Crash Data

[Lonewolf_50]

They have slipped the surly bonds of earth...

[treadigraph]

Looking at ADSB there was another T-6 manoeuvring in the area for a while before the accident - the aircraft quoted by ASN only makes a brief appearance that I can see - which then circles roughly where the accident occurred several times before returning to Williston Municipal Airport. Formation work or a "Top Gun" style session perhaps?

I had looked earlier and noticed a different T-6 but can't see that one now - might have got the time difference wrong.

Edit: the accident aircraft's short ADSB link I'd seen was on ASN came from earlier in the day when the other aircraft I noted, N7572, was certainly in the area with it. A T-28 was also manoeuvering a bit further to the north. The third T-6 was in the area an hour or so earlier.

I note Sun 'n' Fun began the following day, I wonder if they were gathering at Williston for a mass arrival at Lakeland...

[Machinbird]

From the ASN referenced TV news report by an eye witness to the accident, it appears that the accident aircraft was part of a flight of 3 such aircraft, performing a formation flight, as is typical for airshow flybys.
If the accident aircraft was a wingman, it is probable that only the flight lead would have been squawking, and thus there may not be ADSB information from the accident aircraft.
I do not know what the AT-6 flight manual might say on the subject, but the roughly comparable T-28B flight manual directs gear up landings for any off runway events.

[treadigraph]

Aircraft appears to have been participating in a Formation Clinic at Williston apparently under the auspices of the North American Trainer Association between 10th and 14th April - seems likely to have been a build up to a formation arrival at Lakeland on 14th or 15th I guess. Very sad.

[megan]

I do not know what the AT-6 flight manual might say on the subject, but the roughly comparable T-28B flight manual directs gear up landings for any off runway events

Gear up or down, The T-6 manual leaves it to pilot discretion. T-28 high altitude, options given bail out, landing gear down on runway - low altitude, gear down on prepared surface, gear up on unprepared surface or into water.

Saw it happen to a T-28, ailerons jammed on the overshoot from a field carrier landing at Barin Field (close to where this T-6 accident occurred), pilot closed throttle and landed, aircraft immediately speared off the side of the runway where upon he raised the gear, as called for by the manual, little damage.

[DogTailRed2]

Quite a few T-6 crashes lately (I seem to recall about five in the last couple of years).

[treadigraph]

Eight T-6/SNJs lost in fatal accidents the last five years I can see on ASN; includes the mid-air at Reno, the Skytypers and Finnish engine failures on take off, plus four which may have involved loss of control - though I suppose this latest accident could have been another mid-air.

[EDMJ]

Originally Posted by Machinbird

From the ASN referenced TV news report by an eye witness to the accident, it appears that the accident aircraft was part of a flight of 3 such aircraft, performing a formation flight, as is typical for airshow flybys.

Too slow in a turn at low altitude, followed an unrecoverable stall? Not the first time that that has happened to a T-6.