B-17 crashes at Hartford

I found this: Crash

Prayers for those involved, I hope no one was hurt seriously.

That's very sad.  I sure hope the crew got out and no one was hurt on the ground. 

Yeah, I just was watching some clips from local news channels there about this. Not good at all.

Yeah, I just heard it on the radio.  Here's NBC's story:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/vintage-b-17-plane-crashes-erupts-flames-bradley-international-airport-n1061161

Probably the same as the other networks'.

"We're not able to pan the camera".  So they just have a shot of a highway, and an airport.  Then they pick up mobile phone images.

Owned by the Collings Foundation.  Anyone know offhand which one they own?

OK, Collings owns the "Nine-O-Nine".  Yes, hopefully no one was injured.

In the background there. I'm the fat guy up front.

42-31909

I just saw this on TV. A picture was taken from a chopper located above the B-17. The plane is a total loss. 

The Wings of Freedom Tour was in the Chicago area past July. It was enjoyable looking at the WWII aircraft. I considered taking a ride in the B-17, but decided that the price of the ride  was too high.

Damn shame. Hopefully minimal loss of life.

That was Nine-O-Nine. Apparently crashed on approach around 10:30, two known dead, at least 3 injured. Eye witnesses indicated the plane was very low, may have had an engine out, and may have clipped a building.

Tragic situation.

Okay, I don't want to start a ruckus here, but I have an opinion regarding allowing the public to fly in WWII airplanes. Do you think that the B-17 and B-24 should have emergency exit doors retrofitted to those planes? I know that those planes would no longer be "original" in appearance, but as it currently stands, there is no way out of those planes in the event of an emergency landing. I am in no way blaming anyone for what happeded today.

No,I myself don't believe they should alter the original look of the plane.I mean you pay your fee,sign your release,and you go up.The ones who pay up to go up in these 70 yr old birds know the risk.If you don't like it,don't fly.

To me,it's different then these DUWK boats where much more of the general public may use them and not realize the risk  the altered craft pose,they need regulations.But these old warbirds are diffrent to me.

However in this over regulated,overly litigious,quick to assign blame and deny responsibility society,who knows where this will go.

In one way I agree with Tojo, on the other hand I think that if they are going to allow the public to fly in them as a way to raise funds to keep them flying, they need to explore some safety methods.

I'm sure that they can build a couple of emergency exits without overly compromising the exterior look of the aircraft.

It's a heartbreak that it resulted in loss of life, and the loss of another piece of history.

Thiese are pictures of the Nine o Nine. It is a beautiful plane. It is truly unfortunate for the loss of life today.  There are only two main ways to exit a B-17. There is a small door at the rear of the plane and a really small crew hatch under the cockpit. When I toured the inside of the plane I  entered  through the crew hatch. I went up a ladder and then had to get on my hands and knees and crawl. If the plane had an emergency landing the crew hatch would be useless as a means of exit. Trying to get the crew and the passangers all the way to the rear door would be difficult due to the catwalk in the bomb bay. My opinion is that if emergency doors were inserted into  the fuselage they would not affect the look of the plane.

GMorrison

In the background there. I'm the fat guy up front.

42-31909

 

The B-17 was not the easiest aircraft to get in and out of, but the passengers were seated to the rear of the aircraft near the waist exit.  I don't think exiting the aircraft was the problem in this case.

A sad day.

Gary

A tragic loss for all involved, and for the aviation community.  It saddens me to see a fellow B-17 be lost to a crash.  I know what it takes to keep these old gals flying and airworthy. 

There are several places to exit the Movie Memphis Belle in the event of an emergency, not just the crew doors in the front and rear of the plane.  The waist gunner area has two "windows" that can be opened.  There is also a window that can be removed in the top of the fuselage. 

Remains to be seen if the waist windows or the radio compartment hatch plexi were rivited in making them more or less permanent installations.  Way too early to speculate unless someone who has actually flown on the 909 can verify either way.

NTSB findings will be released eventually after they finish their investigation.  Might take up to a year though.

Nine oh Nine looks to be a total loss. So far the casualties are five dead, and nine injured, 13 on the aircraft and 1 on the ground. Just a guess, but looking at the damage I imagine that fatalities were up front, and any survivors were in the mid and tail areas.

goldhammer

...Way too early to speculate unless someone who has actually flown on the 909 can verify either way...

Amazing anyone survived after impacting that fuel tank farm.

Wow, looking at those pics I dont think doors mattered.  Very sad.

You can replace the plane, at great cost, but you can't replace those people. Definately a very sad day for sure. 

BK

goldhammer

Amazing anyone survived after impacting that fuel tank farm.

 

That tanks are a de icing facility, according to one account. If those were fuel tanks, it likely would have been far worse.

I have been in that aircraft, but not in the air. I did go up in the B-24. My understanding was that you had to choose front or rear- there was no crossing the bomb bay. It was possible to cross in the Liberator. I was in the navigator position at take off and had the most fun crawing up to the nose turret and sitting in there.

I bring this up as we all can feel for the humans in the aircraft. They are very nice people.

Access to the B-17 interior was through the hatch under the tail, which was only a couple of feet above the ground. The radio operators overhead was open. I don't remember the waist windows, but they were on the B-24 and we could literally lean out.

I didn't really give it much thought as it was so exciting to do. But yeah, there wouldn't be much of a chance of survival in a crash.

I just saw this on news this afternoon. Heartbreaking. I went to see it this past August with my son; I have pictures of sitting in it. My thoughts are with the families.

Here we go again.  I knew this was coming.  Some clueless politician is demanding that ALL vintage aircraft be grounded immediately.

Cadet Chuck

Here we go again.  I knew this was coming.  Some clueless politician is demanding that ALL vintage aircraft be grounded immediately.

 

Really?!  Always sticking their nose in where it doesn't belong.  It's always a risk flying in an older aircraft, any aircraft for that matter.  I'm sure the passengers and crew were all aware of the risk. 

Cadet Chuck

Here we go again.  I knew this was coming.  Some clueless politician is demanding that ALL vintage aircraft be grounded immediately.

Well, there goes our B-52 fleet...