Posted on 09/18/2008 1:55:37 PM PDT by pabianice
Federal investigators are on their way to Douglass, Kansas to investigate the crash of a Cessna Skycatcher LSA prototype Thursday. The pilot of the test aircraft was able to parachute to safety and was reportedly taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Cessna media relations personnel were unable to immediately respond to AVweb's request for more detailed information, but KAKE Television is reporting the aircraft crashed into a treeline near the boundary of Butler and Cowley Counties. The television station is quoting witnesses as saying they heard a loud pop and then saw sparks and the plane spiraling down. The pilot landed in a field about 400 yards from the aircraft. The TV station quoted a Cessna spokesman as saying the crash aircraft had about 150 hours on it.
The prototype first flew on March 8, and Cessna is planning on delivering the first customer aircraft in the first half of 2009. What the crash does to that schedule is unclear. There are close to 1,000 orders for the aircraft, which will be built in China and reassembled in three plants in the U.S.
(Excerpt) Read more at avweb.com ...
Not good at all. Cessna was trying to keep costs down by having their new entry level plane built in China.
They should change the name to groundcatcher.
Although one hates to hear of any a/c crash, I'm glad the test pilot got out without serious injury.
Pure supposition based upon above report: wing spar failed at bottom of fuel tank (pop); fuel ignited briefly (sparks); wing failed.
Built in China. Sheesh. Can’t even get a good plane anymore.
Since the pilot jumped, I assume he had no control at all. All controls locked...Otherwise, a good test pilot would try a dead-stick landing...But then again, I am not a pilot.
Cessna is just trying to increase sales of the Ballistic Recovery System (BRS) option...
Skycather: Made in China.
It’s not like this was a prototype with innovative aerodynamics and technology. It’s a damn piston single. Who the heck can screw something that simple up?
But if I can buy it at Walmart for $499...
Might be worth considering.
Accidents happen! Honest!
In all fairness though, I did know a test pilot when I was younger. When I first asked him what he did for a living, he said, "I rip the wings off of aircraft". Apparently, the manufacturers really want to know the exact limits of the machine before failure and they pay good money to find out.
I wouldn’t buy a plane from WalMart, but
I *might* buy a boat from WalMart.
The difference being, I can swim...
Lookie what I found:
CindyDawg: "How much with an attached parachute?:’) "
ROFLMAO
Wong Wei?
Yeah you’re right. Who could pass up a deal like that to kill yourself? LOL
I’m thinking “too much lead in the paint”.
Wight you are!
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