Harrison Ford Crashed

[Squawk7700]

Ouch!

A Ryan I assume?

Harrison Ford: Star Wars, Indiana Jones star injured in Los Angeles plane crash, US media reports - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-06/harrison-ford-plane-crashes-at-la-golf-course/6285456)


http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/6285472-3x2-700x467.jpg

[troppo]

Appears the force (of gravity) was with him.
Hope this doesn't screw up episode 7 later in the year

[Tankengine]

It was reported as a Boeing WW2 trainer, Probably is.
Hard to tell from pics whether the golf course landing direction was off the end of the runway or a turnback, whichever - it looks like he put it down where he could.
Good job, he is alive, hopefully fully recovers and even with that damage the machine will probably get rebuilt.:ok:

[stevep64]

It was reported as a Boeing WW2 trainer, Probably is.

If that's a Boeing, it's got more damage than we thought. The top wing is missing. :)

[I spy]

Audio is here:

Harrison Ford -- Plane Crashes ... Actor Seriously Injured (VIDEO UPDATE: Paramedics Treat Harrsion) | TMZ.com (http://www.tmz.com/2015/03/05/harrison-ford-plane-crash-landing-golf-course-santa-monica/)

[rdemonta]

It's a Ryan.

[Critical Reynolds No]

Hope this doesn't screw up episode 7 later in the year

They finished filming months ago. It's now in the hands of the CGI folk.

[Ex FSO GRIFFO]

From the audio, it sounds like he was trying to turn back and land on the runway, following an EFATO....
He nominates 'Rwy 3'....

This airport is surrounded by houses etc., except for that one golf course. (Google Earth)

Anyway, he is Ok apparently. Previous reports commented injuries as 'critical' then 'serious'....

Cheers :ok:

[Fly26]

Looks like a job well done to me....sterling flying. Get well soon.

[rog747]

indeed seems he did the right thing

from an actual video of him taken from the golf course on approach he still had some altitude and seemed to be heading back to santa monica airport as he had requested to do so on a RT for an immediate return which ATC gave him clearance

its seems he could not make it back to the runway and the golf course was his option from what we can see with the 180 turn needed

heavy residential and streets is to one side of the runway threshold and golf course to the other

[Basil]

Used to like nightstopping Santa Monica; very civilised.

Noticed in one report:
There have been calls from local people to close Santa Monica airport
I'm always amused by folks who build right up to an airport boundary and then want it closed. We also have them in the UK.

http://36.media.tumblr.com/533d66ae35c32a407efa4726118f46b7/tumblr_n105l1SDgG1qlel45o1_1280.jpg
Santa Monica airfield 1924 USC Libraries

There's a good 1942 image with detail of Douglas production on the right (I'd guess) but it well exceeds the Prune recommended size at:
http://www.smgov.net/uploadedImages/Departments/Airport/1942%20Airport%20camo%281%29.JPG

[papazulu]

There have been calls from local people to close Santa Monica airport

I was in the US last Nov and a friend of mine based in VNY told me that the voters opted for new condos, shopping mall and traffic congestion so to get rid of those noisy airplanes...

PZ :mad:

[MtSpeedDemon]

I heard today he has a broken pelvis. Ouch! Not critical or life threatening but more serious than walking out of the hospital after a quick checkup.

Jack Ryan flying "Solo" in a Ryan

[No Fly Zone]

I've seen that image before, but it is still fun. I used to live/work in the neighborhood and can tell you that it does NOT look like now...
The Penmar golf course is the only safe dump before the sandy beach and has been used MANY times for EFATO events. A tiny left and some open space is far better than dense, mostly small, '50s single family homes!
Mr. Ford is an experienced pilot, has flown from Santa Monica for years and he certainly knows the territory. The only "Media Reported" item (always suspect) was the reported request for an immediate return to SMO, presuming a near 180 degree reversal. While a +/- normal instinct, pilots of light aircraft are taught that that is a horrible, often fatal choice. (Not enough altitude, speed or simple K. ENERGY to remain flying without power during the turn. Mr. Ford certainly knows that, but at the instant of his call, he MAY still have had SOME power available. It did not last long... I'm sure that Mr. Ford will recover and return to flying.
Aside: A relative lives not far from SMO's departure end; they hear they all the time. Said relative's report is that MOST pilots angle slightly left, over the golf course until they reach the coast, all if ~~1.5 - 2.0 miles distant. A few noisy jets fly straight, but the smart pilots angle a bit and bother the golfers when possible.
SMO, formerly Douglas Field, the home of the DC-3/C-47 is an icon and generally safe airport. The RWY at SMO is perfectly OK for the market(s) that it serves and will likely stay around for many more years, What SMO cannot do is expand or lengthen. The simple topography of the place dictates that the runway cannot be extended, by even a foot in either direction.
I do not believe that SMO has ever hosted a 'primary' AF-1 aircraft, but Marine-1 (Think Reagan era) and countless second-level aircraft have landed there countless times. To my knowledge, at least in the early 80s, SMO was equipped with stand-by communications facilities for Presidential use, if needed, activation requiring only 'pulling the picks.' The several systems were tested regularly and if the president or a very senior representative was in the region, the 'picks' were pulled and instant communication with the W.H. switchboard was established. Since this protocol is likely still in effect, I won't say where it actually happened. There was some on-airport work necessary, but it was minor. I am ashamed to admit that those details were also executed during most of Nancy's solo visits, the W.H. always paying the substantial bills. Also to my knowledge, those communications facilities were never used by a president, transiting SMO. There (are) designed as backup facilities, for use when/if the primary links fail. At the end of the day, the Command Authority is NEVER isolated or out of touch with his (her- pending) action staff.

[Yellow Son]

Well done, HF. Any truth in the suggestion he chose the golf course because there are sure to be a lot of doctors on hand?

[OK465]

SMO, formerly Douglas Field

Actually it was formerly "Cloverfield".

It was also a Douglas Aircraft production site for the A-1 Skyraider, one of which crashed into a home off the end of RWY 21 in the 50's. Back when Penmar and surroundings were nothing but overgrown weed fields and a couple of Little League Baseball diamonds.

Ford did an apparently excellent job, though he does seem a bit accident prone, and now thankfully we'll get the planned Blade Runner II also. :)

[Astra driver]

No Fly Zone,

The "Smart Pilots" you are referring to at following the airports recommended noise abatement departure profile for a Visual Flight Rules departure from Runway 21, namely a slight left "dog leg" turn to overfly the length of the golf course. An emergency landing at the golf course could just as easily be initiated from a straight out departure.

The "Noisy Jets" your friend refers to (Or any other aircraft on an IFR flight plan) fly straight out because they are on an Instrument Flight Rules departure and are required to maintain runway heading until a point that is approximately over the shoreline.

[pattern_is_full]

In an interview some time ago on "Inside The Actors' Studio", Ford was asked about a dynamic rollover he had in a helo (Robinson, I believe).

Asked what happened, he said "It broke. (Long pause) I broke it."

Would that all PIC's were so forthright. :D

[keebird]

Propeller Aircraft Procedures - SMO: Santa Monica Municipal Airport (http://www.smgov.net/Departments/Airport/Pilots/Propeller_Aircraft_Procedures.aspx)

When "smart pilots" overfly the golf course on departure it is not necessarily because it is the smartest thing to do.
It is because the neighborhood noise n@zis dictate it.

[PrincessPilot]

He was a student of my flight school! Go American Flyers! :D

[con-pilot]

Hey learned from the best!

And I thought American's didn't do irony?

If you have a point, make it or take it JB.

[skyhighfallguy]

we don't do windows, irony is fine.

[runway16]

Now we know all about the accident except for one thing ....


What was the cause of the 'engine failure' ?


R16

[skyhighfallguy]

I think it was a lubrication issue. But who really knows?

There were reports of leaking fuel, so that would indicate there was fuel onboard the plane.

I saw dripping fuel during early tv coverage, and someone had put sand or similar to contain leakage.

beautiful paint scheme popular with army air corps during pre WW2 years.

[PrivtPilotRadarTech]

I'm also interested in the cause of the loss of power. Fuel issues come to mind in this scenario, but this aircraft had fuel and a simple fuel system- a single tank mounted behind the firewall that gravity feeds the carburetor. So it wasn't fuel exhaustion or a pump or tank-switching issue. I found some interesting details on the Ryan posted a few years ago by the owner/restorer/pilot of a PT-22.
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/142010793-post8.html

Some of his comments:
"Lots of engine failures and a good majority are from pilots not turning the oil shut off back on before flight." (It has a dry oil sump, and a shut-off valve to keep oil from leaking into the engine while it's sitting.)

"Very pleasant on the controls and not very challenging to fly UNLESS the engine fails. Then it is one of the most serious airplanes out there."

[PrivtPilotRadarTech]

The cause of the engine failure has been announced: "Examination of the airplane's engine revealed that the carburetor's main metering jet was unscrewed from its seat and rotated 90 degrees. The unseated jet would have allowed an increased fuel flow through the main metering orifice, producing an extremely rich fuel-to-air ratio, which would have resulted in the loss of engine power."

For the complete report search for NTSB Identification: WPR15FA121
RYAN AERONAUTICAL ST3KR, registration: N53178

[John Farley]

I am so glad that it was not the Ryan PT22 typical pilot pigs of forgetting to turn on the oil before start.

Well done that man.

[PrivtPilotRadarTech]

This is cool, his wife is OK with him flying:
"More than five months after his single-engine airplane crashed on a California golf course, Harrison Ford is well and flying again.

"He loves it, so I love it, and I support him 100 percent" Calista Flockhart said of her husband's passion.

Flockhart added that the Indiana Jones star, 73, is doing well, and she has even joined him in his plane."

Also glad it wasn't pilot error. There is more in the NTSB report, he wouldn't have been so badly injured if his shoulder belt had been properly installed. What would have been really cool: recognizing that the engine was running rich, and adjusting the mixture to restore power. Mixture rich, carb heat on was counter productive in this case. S turns to land safely on the open areas of the golf course he overflew would also have helped.

[barit1]

Link to narrative: http://ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20150305X93207&key=1&queryId=b0f3e143-6444-4910-bfbe-112b822b9cc4&pgno=21&pgsize=50

Note that NTSB also makes note of inadequate installation of an aftermarket shoulder harness, probably aggravating his injuries.