Headcorn museum exhibit aircraft involved in nine injury accident

well, I for 1 completely understand the initial remarks made by Moggy……………
to condemn a guy for commenting on what he thought was just a bad day at work, thats not fair.

I’ll put my own reaction to his remarks in context too if I may. The post I found objectionable included a link to the news story which already included such detail as:

“Two people were seriously injured and seven more treated at the scene …..
Kent Ambulance Service said the pilot suffered severe head injuries and one male skydiver had chest injuries…….
One female passenger was later transferred to hospital after suffering a severe asthma attack.”

It was clear at the outset this was not just a “bad day at the office”.
I too have been close to fatal accidents and have lost pilot a friend in such circumstances.

Given the reports already available at the time about the potential severity, I don’t think the cavalier wording and insensitivity of the original post was excusable. Some forethought for the relatives of those involved at such uncertain times is just good pastoral care and simple manners.

I think you’re trying to defend the indefensible. I fully accept Moggy wasn’t trying to deliberately offend anyone (I never believed he was) and he’s corrected the matter already – which is the honourable thing. If you don’t think my earlier criticism was fair then that’s your privilege.

They were definately taking off cross ways as compared to straight down the grass runway parrallel to the car park. As for runway numbers I dont know but they were taking off towards the museum, so did the tiger moths aswell. Anyway a tragedy none the less and thoughts be with the family of the man involved.

well, I for 1 completely understand the initial remarks made by Moggy.
Pilots as a group tend to downplay incidents, it is our nature,
upon finding they are indeed worse than we may have thought, the next reaction is to justify,
“there but for the grace”
that is the natural tendancy, because lets face it, we all think it couldnt be us, it wouldnt be us, we could have done differently
thats called defense mechanism
As one who has been involved in a very close experience where a pilot, a friend has died, and witnessed a fair few others, it is completely natural.
So this is not a time to make a point, cause I guarantee that Mr Moggy feels bad about this, not for what he said, as that was normal comments, but the end result.
As one who flew the beaver for many years I am profoundly sad for the pilot, its a shame, but to condemn a guy for commenting on what he thought was just a bad day at work, thats not fair.

From what I understand from a Headcorn regular, Lydd was set up as the emergency divert and they charged landing fees regardless – he was unimpressed…

TT

And indeed accepted as such. My initial post, based on incomplete information was ill-judged. I make no claims of infallibility and wish it were possible to wind the clock back.

That being said, can you confirm which exhibit it was that was involved?

Moggy

Moggy I have to stand up for you here (as one of the most barked at users on the forum!) its a case of putting a brave face on it and I am sure you had no offence intended.

I was stunned to hear the wise cracks from the OFMC a week or so after
losing Mark Hannah. I was playing a SIM in the hangar and one commented somthing like “dont crash mate, you dont want to end up like our C/O!” and they all roared with laughter. From what I have known of the wartime pilots I have been honoured to meet (and whom I have to thank for my hobby) they put a brave face on it, to hide their true horror.

Agreed, there has already been more than enough speculation and far too much foot in mouth.

It was on runway 22 and was taking off, not taxying and, yes, the re-fuelling point is close to that alignment. I think it true to say those are the facts but I agree with Yakfan that anything other than the AAIB report is idle speculation.

Why don’t you wait for the AIB to ask those questions rather than make idle speculation over yesterday’s tagic events.

I cannot believe what I have just read as I was standing next to the sabre 10minutes before it happened. I left headcorn yesterday on foot just before 4 o clock and heard an huge bang whilst I was walking up the road! A few planes including the beaver were taking of across the runway towards the museum so I can see how it happened. Very sad indeed

They say that the small runway was in use but can a Tubo Beaver really take off on such a small runway?Another thing is the fuel tanks are in line with that runway:eek:

RIP:(

James

A few planes including the beaver were taking of across the runway towards the museum so I can see how it happened. Very sad indeed

Your description of “taking off across the runway” seems at odds with a reputed eye-witness report elsewhere that says the Beaver used the short runway. Do you mean across runway 11/29 using runway 04/22?

The airfield’s own website shows such a runway (marked I think on their indicative map as unlicensed) running towards the museum i.e. runway 22.

http://www.headcornaerodrome.co.uk/default.aspx?module=pilots&done=yes

A satellite view of the airfield shows well the relationship between the live airfield and museum site (the actual exhibits can be seen but not sure how old the view is and weather any exhibits have been repositioned since it was taken)

http://www.content-delivery.co.uk/aviation/airfields/Headcorn.html

It would of course be completely wrong to speculate the cause as is already happening on some other forums. Very, very sad outcome and condolences to the family of the pilot and thoughts for a full recovery to those injured.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/news/default.asp?article_id=31321

Another news report.
Its true, Headcorn does suffer from a minority of anti-GA types.
The main protagonist, a nasty old b*@#*$^d who ran a protest website, used to gloat about mishaps, even the fatal ones.

Very sad news, early reports sounded more encouraging.

I cannot believe what I have just read as I was standing next to the sabre 10minutes before it happened. I left headcorn yesterday on foot just before 4 o clock and heard an huge bang whilst I was walking up the road! A few planes including the beaver were taking of across the runway towards the museum so I can see how it happened. Very sad indeed

Russ – this sounds like an aborted take off as opposed to a taxying accident.

Most sad indeed. I am suprised that taxying aircraft can get so close to the museum exhibits? It’s a difficult one to imagine, but then I am not a pilot.

My deepest sympathies to all those involved.:(

And indeed accepted as such. My initial post, based on incomplete information was ill-judged. I make no claims of infallibility and wish it were possible to wind the clock back.

That being said, can you confirm which exhibit it was that was involved?

Moggy

It was the F-100 Super Sabre. I understood from my son that the damage to the Beaver cockpit was caused by the wing of the F-100.

From the BBC news web site this morning it looks like the Turbo-Beaver has run cockpit first into the front fuselage of the F100F Supersabre, other than that there is very little damage to the rest of the TB, she is still sat on complete undercarriage.

My thoughts and sympathies go out to the pilot’s family.

John.

The aircraft involved, OY-JRR was brought from Denmark for the winter season and this photo is by Terry Fletcher.

I am just passing on his observation, not making judgment.

And indeed accepted as such. My initial post, based on incomplete information was ill-judged. I make no claims of infallibility and wish it were possible to wind the clock back.

That being said, can you confirm which exhibit it was that was involved?

Moggy

My son is a firefighter at Headcorn (the village Kent Fire & Rescue, not the airfield crash crew) and was called out to this incident. From what he tells me it was not at all nice – as one can imagine – especially for an eighteen year old. I would just comment that he remarked surprise at the inappropriate way the thread started. I am just passing on his observation, not making judgment.

The terrible news of the death of the pilot has indeed changed the whole tenor of this thread

Apologies if I have been late getting back to it and modifying it suitably.

Moggy.

Your original comments were totally inappropriate in the first place, whether or not you chose to modify them subsequently

I hope you are considering whether it is appropriate for you to continue moderating this board. I do question that.