How Will it Read in the NTSB Report?
“Immediately following touchdown the aircraft impacted an automobile crossing the runway. The resulting impact killed the pilot and passenger and both occupants in the vehicle, one of which was a nine year old child. The resulting fire quickly spread to three houses in the upscale airpark community located in central South Carolina.”
This nearly became the truth last night at Whiteplains Plantation (SC99). A vehicle crossed the runway directly in front of a high performance aircraft that had just touched down, and was well below go around airspeed. The vehicle narrowly missed hitting the aircraft which could have resulted in four fatalities.
We live in a unique community and runway incursions by vehicles of residents and visitors are frequently observed. There is no excuse for any vehicle to cause the kind of serious, near fatal, conflict with any aircraft, as could have happened last night.
Everyone must, without exception, ensure that any runway crossings by vehicles are done with the utmost safety. A tragic accident almost happened last night; we cannot be too cautious. Make certain that you observe and assist all non-residents crossing the runway, and always exercise extreme caution in crossing the runway.
Stop, roll down your windows, turn down the radio, and look both ways before crossing . . . the life you save could be your own. . . or the life of your friend and neighbor.
Jim Wheat
President, Whiteplains Pilots Association
Photo's by: Phil Rainwater
Leslie and I flew to Winder on Sat. to eat lunch. The Spitfire deli was closed. We were told by another pilot there to try The Flying Machine Restr. at KLZU Lawrenceville, GA. Its about 14 miles West of Winder. The food was excellent and the prices were fair. Best of all you taxied to the front door. The link to there website is http://www.theflyingmachine.com/ Joy is one of the owners. I told her to contact you and maybe put a link on the neighborhood blog if you were interested. We had a good time. She told us that she heard the Spitfire will be closing down because the FBO wants them to open up for dinner and they want to remain a lunch restr. So, there lease isn’t going to be renewed. She wasn’t sure of it, but that may explain the locked doors. I will say we got there about 15mins prior to closing. Maybe they just took off early. Anyway, my two cents worth.
