Crap day at duxford

[jslugman]

Mustang "Beautiful Doll" clipped wings with Skyraider  RM-24143 at Duxford, Mustang crashed (pilot parachuted and ok) Skyraider landed minus a chunk of wing:

http://www.cambridgefirst.co.uk/news/crash_at_duxford_air_show_1_958563

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/picture_update_duxford_two_planes_collide_in_mid_air_accident_at_duxford_imperial_war_museum_airshow_1_958559

[Joe Copalman]

No photo credit in the second article linked.  I HATE that.

[wingsnstuff]

The P-51D "Big Beautiful Doll" and a Skyraider carrying VA-176 colors, collided during an air show at Duxford, England.  The P-51D was a loss.  The Skyraider lost a significant section of its right wing, but was able to land safely.  The pilot of the Mustang was able to parachute to safety.  Both pilots were uninjured.  There is a You Tube video of the mid-air.

[Dave S.]

I've merged Vance's post with James' original posting.

[BillOz]

Here's video of the actual mid-air contact.  Very clearly shows what happened at 30 secs. into the vid.  Then shows slow mo.

http://www.flyingfilm.co.uk/archives/58

[Joe Copalman]

Whoa.  Thanks for posting that Bill.

Impact was much harder than I had thought.  Glad both pilots made it out.

[Jay Beckman]

When I saw how hard the Spad hit the Mustang, I was honestly surprised that the Mustang's tail didn't get sheared right off.

That kind of unrecoverable pitch moment probably would have meant the pilot could not have gotten out.

[Joe Copalman]

Yeah, in the immediate aftermath when the news first broke that the Mustang crashed but the A-1 recovered with a missing wingtip, I was thinking "score one for Ed Heinemann," but after seeing that impact, the designers and engineers behind the Mustang deserve some kudos as well.  Even though it crashed, man that thing could take a punch.

[Stephen Marshall]

I don't quite understand how the mustang crashed? It seemed to be in good shape and it looks like the pilot held it level until he could get out.  Did the impact sever some of the wire controls?

[Jay Beckman]

Probably jammed the rudder + elevator cables or damaged the cableways sufficiently that proper control was no longer possible.