TBM-3 Avenger Destroyed in the US

Not seen this posted on here yet, seen over on MSF:

Pilot still critical after fiery landing of WWII-era plane bomber
By EDWARD VAN EMBDEN Staff Writer, 856-649-2072

Published: Monday, March 09, 2009

MILLVILLE – The pilot of a World War II-era plane remains in critical
condition after landing and escaping the burning bomber Saturday afternoon
at Millville Municipal Airport.
Terry Rush, of Cherry Hill, Camden County, was flying the TBM-3E Grumman
Avenger when, according to reports, it caught fire in midair. The retired
Delta Air Lines pilot was able to land the plane on the runway and escape
before it burst into flames.
The plane’s owner, Tom Duffy, was at the airport and was the first to
attend to Rush.
Lisa Jester, executive director of the Millville Army Air Field Museum, said
she spoke with Duffy about the incident Sunday. Duffy told her Rush remains
in critical condition at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pa., with
second and third-degree burns to his arms and torso.
As of Sunday night, Jester said, Rush was still heavily sedated.

James Salmon, spokesman for the Delaware River and Bay Authority, which
owns the airport, said Saturday the fire was reported at 4:40 p.m. to the
Millville Fire Department.
In all, 27 firefighters from Millville, Laurel Lake and Cedarville put out
the blaze.
The plane was destroyed. Its skeletal cage was taken to Bianco Brothers
Garage in Bridgeton. The Federal Aviation Administration will oversee the
investigation into the incident.
Duffy is the owner of several vintage aircraft, including a P-47
Thunderbolt. Rush, Jester said, is Duffy’s good friend and the only person,

other than Duffy, who flies and works on his vintage planes.
Rush was one of four men to pilot P-47s in the Millville air show last
September at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
“From what Tom told me, they’re really anal about keeping up with the
aircraft and doing whatever needs to be done,” Jester said. “Tom is a
safety nut. He has no clue how this could have happened.”
All of Duffy’s airplanes are in mint condition, she added.
Duffy and Rush’s family could not be reached for comment Sunday night.
Jester said Rush, 63, is a common sight around the museum and airport, and
flies vintage planes frequently.
In June, a Czech-made military training jet crashed and took the lives of
two Gloucester County men shortly after taking off from Millville Airport.
Pilot William Crean, 65, of Washington Township, and passenger Frederick
Gault, 57, of Monroe Township, Gloucester County, died June 22 when the L-29
Delfin, a training jet, experienced engine failure and plummeted into the
thick forest surrounding the airport.
Rush’s experience may have saved his life, Jester said. Rush landed the
plane while it was burning and exited, rolling off the wing, as the plane
continued down the runway. He was alert and talking when he was found.
“Things like this happen, unfortunately. They’re freak
accidents,” Jester
said. “Terry is an expert. He was able to land it on the runway and avoid
crashing into anything else. It could have been a lot worse than it was.”
E-mail Edward Van Embden:
[email]EVanEmbden@pressofac.com[/email]

Aircraft involved is N188TD Grumman TBM-3 Avenger c/n 53522/3584. Click link below for photos
after the crash:

http://www.nj.com/south/index.ssf/2009/03/wwii_avenger_bursts_into_flame.html

Hope the pilot makes a full recovery.