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Three injured after North American B-25 Mitchell vintage WWII bomber crashes in California, United States
On 19 September, a North American “Old Glory” TB-25N Mitchell vintage WWII bomber (registered N7946C and built in 1944) was severely damaged in an off-airport landing near Stockton, California, United States. The plane attempted a landing in an open field and appeared to have struck an irrigation ditch. All three people on board sustained injuries, two of them were taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. (www.aviation24.be) More...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
I hope that the crew recovers and can fly again. If the plane is repairable, that is fine, but people that can fly that plane are in short supply.
I wish the media would use the correct terminology, this wasn't really a crash, it was an emergency landing in a field that resulted in a lot of damage.
Alpha Strike sad very sad.
They said "Mechanical Failure".... Wish they could offer a little more detail.
My bet would be dual engine failure, for whatever reason, fuel exhaustion or contamination, pump failure,etc; possibly prop malfunction? A B-25 is more than capable to safely fly on one engine, so it must had been something that forced them to land there. Of course you know, if I was the pilot and forgot to doublecheck the fuel and run out, I would have stated to the press "Yes, it was mechanical failure, for some reason both engines quit", LOL!
Some pretty strong rumors in 'The warbird community' that this airplane had a "dual vapor lock"! Both engines and mounts were ripped from the firewalls and that leaves some fairly substantial sized severed fuel lines with, 'apparently', no fuel spill immediately afterwards, and 'no fire'. It cleaned the gear off as well and the pictures I have, but can't find on the popular 'net' seem to indicate props. not feathered and a couple of fairly straight blades left. It'll probably go back to Chino for a while, from whence it came, 2'59" before the hard landing.