ThirtyEcho From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 1635 posts, RR: 1 Posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1205 times:
Does anybody know what happened? This was obviously a power loss of some kind; the video showed it in a turn like it could have been two shutdown on the same side.
The bigger issue is: when do we stop flying these birds because there are too few left to risk? I love the sound of a Merlin at full rock 'n' roll as much as anyone but when have we pranged enough Spitfires and P-51s to say that's enough, we don't want to lose them all?
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: SEATTLE State: WA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
ACFT CONTACTED ATC REPORTING A LANDING GEAR PROBLEM OVER ELLIOT BAY, THEN
THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, AND THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY DITCHED INTO THE
WATER, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME, SEATTLE, WA.
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 2 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk: Y
# Pass: 2 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk: Y
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: General Aviation
Departed: SEATTLE, WA Dep Date: 03/28/2002 Dep. Time: 1230
Destination: SEATTLE, WA Flt Plan: UNK Wx Briefing: U
Last Radio Cont: BFI ATCT LOCAL
Last Clearance: CLRD TO LAND
FAA FSDO: SEATTLE, WA (NM01) Entry date: 03/29/2002
Someday, we'll look back at this, laugh nervously, and then change the subject.
ExitRow From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1139 times:
I've heard fuel starvation of some sort. Lost the #3 engine first, then (supposedly) lost the remaining before ditching. The aircraft did indeed have trouble with the main gear. One wheel needed to be manually cranked by crew prior to the engine failures.
ThirtyEcho From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 1635 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1130 times:
OK, I think that I see the possible scenario: it was going to be just a short local flight so they took off with just the fuel that was in the tanks at the time; then, the gear problem forced them to spend X amount of time to resolve and, whatever that time was, the available fuel didn't cover it. Maybe there are some better conjectures from old B-17 hands who have had a gear problem?
N400QX From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1118 times:
Only thing with that theory is that I saw a significant slick over the water after the crash. Though maybe fuel starvation could still be a possible cause.
I just saw the video for the first time on KING tonight-- amazing. The plane looked in good condition when it came out (er, good condition for being in a crash and sinking).
Clipperhawaii From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 2033 posts, RR: 13 Reply 5, posted (11 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1078 times:
Where is the aircraft now? Has it been transported back to Boeing Field?
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