Bizarre Prangs

[John (Gary) Cooper]

Just wondered if anyone can add some bizarre stories of prangs and thangs, mainly one liners as on my web page Bizarre Accidents on the header page of <www> above. An example: An Auster shot itself down with its own Very Pistol, or tragically The pilot of a Harvard was following a railway line and failed to pull out when he approached the tunnel..........

[ORAC]

F-106 that landed itself:

F106 (http://www.f-106deltadart.com/html-pages/71fis_pilotless787.htm)

[spekesoftly]

Orac,

Please can you check the 'F106' url - can't get it to open, thanks.

[ORAC]

Opens fine for me. But here it is in clear. I also put a space after the www so it wouldn't make it a url and cut out the middle:

http://www.f-106deltadart.com/html-pages/71fis_pilotless787.htm

www .f-106deltadart.com/html-pages/71fis_pilotless787.htm

[spekesoftly]

Works fine now - thanks again.

[DB6]

You probably know about the one a couple of years ago where, whilst aerobatting in a JP the copilot fell out as the aircraft flew inverted (through the canopy). Pilot understandably shaken particularly since other chap was his brother. However happy ending as ejector seat went with bro and he floated safely to earth.

[Lowtimer]

The F-106 story reminds me of a Hunter from either Norway or Sweden, from which the pilot banged out, following a flame-out on long final. The aircraft made a perfect wheels-up landing actually on the runway, and was returned to service.

[treadigraph]

I remember reading about a Comanche in the USA; as I recall it was being flown on autopilot at night and exhaust fumes entered the cockpit rendering the pilot unconscious. Overflew destination, ran out of fuel and made a perfect deadstick landing in a snowy field. Pilot regained consciousness, unhurt (except for headache!) and brought a replacement on the insurance!

[Jhieminga]

Avro York has busted no.3 starter. In an attempt to windmill-start this engine the captain runs up the other three and starts speeding down the runway. The event is a partial success as no.3 engine does start! The aircraft does not however manage to stop in time and overshoots the runway, busting the undercarriage and coming to rest in a field.

Full details were found on Aviation-Safety.net (http://www.aviation-safety.net) , you might look the event up as I may not have recalled it correctly. Good luck with the site!

edited to add:
Don't know where i got no.3 engine from, but here is the direct link to the story: York accident (http://aviation-safety.net/database/1954/540413-0.htm)

J.

[Smoketoomuch]

September 10, 1999 at JUNEAU, Alaska.
AS350B on ice field sightseeing flight, becomes disorientated over featureless terrain, hits ground hard. 2nd company helicopter despatched to search for overdue flight... becomes disorientated over featureless terrain, hits ground hard. 3rd company helicopter despatched to search for overdue flights... becomes disorientated over featureless terrain, .... can you guess?

A very expensive day for the company. Fortunately no serious injuries.

1st prang (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X19659&key=1)
2nd prang (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X19666&key=1)
3rd prang (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X19667&key=1)

[Nopax,thanx]

Yep, the Hunter was Danish - virtually undamaged except for a little bit of scuffing around the nose...one very surprised controller, and a VERY embarrassed pilot!!!

[Spodman]

A proud day for the RAN.

A kill for the Sea Fury! (http://www.home.aone.net.au/stories/doc/runaway.htm)

This yarn (as displayed) in in the true Australian tradition of dit spinning, (ie. complete disregard for truth when it gets in the way of a story.) It's all based on fact though, and I heard the story direct from the RAN radio operator on duty at Nowra. In his version there was no red Auster, and the un-manned Auster was yellow. The Meteor (one!) was still in the vicinity when the Navy arrived.

"I have two aircraft in sight," the pilot reported to Nowra. "One silver and one yellow, which one would you like us to shoot down?"