Here’s the message Kevin W. Moore sent to the members of Jet Aircraft Museum – The T-33 Group Group of Canada – JAM. (Facebook)
“Subject: T-33 Accident at CFB Trenton
Hello All,
There seem to be a number of version of what happened with T-33 #648 (US reg N3648) at CFB Trenton today (July 15, 2009). In an effort to put incorrect information to rest, this is a brief as to what seems to have occured. I was there to photograph the departure of 648 so I can offer an eye-witness account. In relative brief, this is what I saw and/or know:
The T-33 was piloted by Col David Graben. Take-off from Runway 24 was approximately 12:12pm. At approximately 20′ altitude, the left armament bay door opened. The pilot made a split second decision to abort the take-off and aggresively put the airplane on the runway with a little less than 2000′ remaining. It appears the left tip tank, then the possibly the right tip tank contacted the runway. The left tip-tank split approximately 1/3 the way down from the leading edge, spilling fuel as the airplane continued to roll down the runway.
Col Graben, realizing the apron was quickly approaching, departed the tarmac to the right side of the runway on to the grass in order to avoid the ILS and cement pilons. The airplane did not appear to be slowing quickly and then disappeared from my view behind a fence.
When I reached a point on th eapron where I could see the airplane, it had come to rest approximately 1 metre from the boundry fence, between the parimeter fence and Boundry Rd, sitting in a ditch.
The pilot exited from the cockpit with some assitance from a bystander who, apparently, hopped the fence. Fortunately, and most importantly, David was uninjured. The status of the airplane, at this time, is unknown. Obviously, it has sustained some damage but it may be some time before how much and how severe the damage is, is known.
Thankfully, nobody was hurt or, worse, killed. There was no fire. The airplane was not destroyed. Whether it is possible that the airplane ever takes to the air again, I am not in a position that would allow me to speak to that. Time will tell.”
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