Posted on 03/16/2007 3:39:54 PM PDT by MindBender26
A lawyer flying a stunt plane at an air show crashed and died Friday before a number of spectators, authorities said.
Elion Krugman-Kadi, of Gainesville, was taking the small military-style L-39 Albatross on a loop that he apparently wasn't able to pull out of, police said. The fiery crash happened on the opening day of the weekend-long TICO Warbird Air Show.
"He was not able to come up and he crashed into several trees just west of the airport," police Sgt. Todd Hutchinson said. "There was no indication that there was anything wrong with the plane."
Mac McEachern, a longtime flying partner of Krugman-Kadi, said his friend learned to fly some time ago in the Israeli military, but only recently got the acrobatic pilot's license enabling him to participate in the show. Krugman-Kadi had also recently bought the old airplane he was flying, McEachern said.
"He was a good pilot, an experienced pilot," McEachern said.
State records show Krugman-Kadi was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1977 and certified in aviation law.
Witnesses told Florida Today of Melbourne the plane was performing a loop when the crash happened just after 2:30 p.m. Tom Erikson, who was watching the show, said it seemed like the pilot was flying too low to pull out of the maneuver.
"Why was he so low to the ground?" Erikson said. "This was a disaster."
Teri McMillan said she and family members were at the show with children, who were badly shaken.
"You want to have fun. You know this is a reality but ..." she told the newspaper before trailing off into tears.
The air show was shut down, and Hutchinson said officials were still deciding whether to cancel the remaining days.
L-39 is Czechoslavakiaan trainer/light attack aircraft.
Why fly so low? because that how they fly at air shows.
I am not totally familiar with aerobatic licenses. Are they issued with a by level of expertise with a minimum altitude?
How sad. Nice plane.
"Teri McMillan said she and family members were at the show with children, who were badly shaken."
Ya think...
Damn... that is a good looking hot rod....
One less lawyer.
Aviation List *PING* ...
A 'Type Rating' is required for the jet; think an IAC (International Aerobatics Club) endorsement is required for air show work.
Someone on the Aviation List will know for sure....
I like it too. I found the picture at http://www.l39.com/
And one more idiot posting.
A lots of accidents for an a/c with so few in service here.
Feb 26, 2006 N39DF California City, CA Fatal (2)
Jan 25, 2006 N104XX Ketchikan, AK Fatal (1)
Mar 7, 2005 N8098T Shreveport, LA Nonfatal
Dec 10, 2004 G-OLAB Manston, Kent Nonfatal
Oct 19, 2004 N39TJ Hyak, WA Fatal (2)
Aug 24, 2003 N298RD Forest Hill, MD Fatal (1)
Aug 2, 2003 G-OTAF Duxford, Cambridgeshire Nonfatal
Jun 30, 2003 N8125R Gadsden, AL Fatal (1)
May 30, 2003 N139RH Tracy, CA Fatal (1)
Oct 30, 2001 N90688 Wilmington, DE Nonfatal
Feb 10, 2001 N901NL Pecan Island, LA Fatal (2)
Jan 24, 2001 N602MC Watkins, CO Fatal (2)
Dec 16, 2000 N139CG Hilton Head, SC Nonfatal
Sep 18, 1998 N44529 Mesa, AZ Nonfatal
The L-39 is an aerial hot rod... several have been augered-in, like this gent, during aerobatic manuevers.
I'd still love to fly one tho'....
Check the accident rate for Corvettes and Ferraris.
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