Bob Odegaard Killed in Crash of Super Corsair

Bob Odegaard was killed on Friday when
his Super Corsair crashed during a
practice run. (Photo courtesy of Nigel
Musgrove)

Enlarge Photo

North Dakota warbird restorer and pilot extraordinaire Bob Odegaard was killed on Friday evening when his Goodyear F2G Super Corsair crashed at Barnes County Airport in Valley City, North Dakota, while Odegaard was practicing for an upcoming airshow. No one on the ground was injured in the crash, and Odegaard died at the scene in the horrific crash. One witness, according to a report on grandforksherald.com, said that Odegaard had been practicing loops right before the crash occurred, and seemed unable to pull out of the final maneuver.

Odegaard, 66, was an extremely experienced airshow performer, having appeared in airshows around the country for decades, often in the F2G. His #74 Super Corsair, one of only 10 built as World War II was coming to its conclusion, was one of only two remaining in the world. His second Super Corsair restoration, Odegaard debuted the finished aircraft just last year.

Odegaard, who owned an FBO and aviation business in Kindred, North Dakota, had a reported 17,000 hours of flight time including in just about every imaginable type of aircraft, according to Odegaard’s profile on Duggy.com. A member of North Dakota’s Aviation Hall of Fame, Odegaard was instrumental in the acquisition and restoration of Duggy, the bright yellow DC-3 that tours the nation to encourage enthusiasm for aviation, especially among young people.

The NTSB is investigating the accident.

View our photo gallery of Bob Odegaard flying his Super Corsair.

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Submitted by elmog on September 09, 2012.

Very sorry to hear about this tragic loss. Sounds like mechanical failure of the control system or pilot incapacitation might be to blame in this case. 17,000 hours of experience and failing to complete a simple aerobatic maneuver just doesn't add up.

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Submitted by iused2fly on September 11, 2012.

First a deadly crash at Reno last year killed spectators and threatened the viability of the event future post crash. Now this awful tragedy. I suppose the obvious question to ponder is whether these were isolated incidents, or are some of these piston warbirds becoming too failure prone to provide an acceptable degree of safety? How many more "expert pilots, crack air racers," will die trying to go faster just to win a race or lop a loop or entertain a crowd? Those public gatherings seem so small, when I imagine the pain his family feels today?

It is salient to recall that these WW-2 hot rods were built in an era where ergonomics were decades away, where the inherent assumption was that they'll either be shot down, or wrecked in a takeoff/landing accident, after a statistical average number of hours. They were not built to last for decades, the way Boeings, Cessnas or Bombardiers were. They were expected to be used up during or shortly after the hostilities ended. Whenever I hear one of them fly by, its Merlin growling, I cannot help but think of all the brave men who fought and died in them, the genuine heros of aerial combat.

My heart goes out to his family, who now must go it alone without their leader, their irreplaceable north star. My God bless and keep him. Take him now to your glory, where his pain no longer troubles his soul. Lord, please give him wings to fly again.

Douglas M
Surrey, British Columbia

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Submitted by Stephan Wilkinson on September 11, 2012.

This airplane was originally sold by Walter Soplata with the proviso that it never be flown. Admittedly it was just a hulk, but he sold it to a quasi-museum--somewhere in Ohio, I think--that planned to restore it completely but indeed did promise to never fly it. When the "museum" failed and in turn sold it to Odegaard, apparently all bets were off. So now it's flown, it's gone, and only one Goodyear FG-1D Corsair remains. (Incidentally, they were never named Super Corsairs. That's a popular fiction.) That one will continue to fly until it too inevitably crashes. Does anyone care?

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Submitted by chalete on September 12, 2012.

Sorry for the loss of life. None of these WWII relics should be flown under extreme circumstances (air races in Reno, airshows performing high Gs, etc.) after all all these aircraft tell the present generations what they did to preserve our freedom and culture, and they should be doing the same for many generations to come.

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Submitted by Pappa51 on September 14, 2012.

I guess opinions are like noses; this unfortunate accident is just that, an accident. The lost of life is tragic and my heart goes out to the loved ones.
With all the Reg.s that have to be complied with aircraft are much safer than any other means of transportation. Driving a car in beyond it's performance envelope is hazardous too. Many more people do that every day just driving home from work.
A great pilot is gone.
I don't believe that he would want this accident to ground all the aging War Birds.
How about we look forward to allowing a great sport, and unique experience continue, and every one drive safely; in the air and on the free-way.
Chrees

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Submitted by Steven Ravine on September 18, 2012.

Why is it that only great pilots kill themselves in airplanes?

How many times have news articles concerning crashes, including this one in Flying, stated the dead pilot was "the safest pilot I ever knew," "an exceptionally skilled pilot," "never took any chances," and "pilot extraordinaire ...?"

All pilots can make mistakes despite the hero worship of the press and friends.

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Submitted by holdeman on October 01, 2012.

Bob did not climb into that airplane expecting to die. That Corsair was in better condition than the day it was built. To think it was an "aging" airplane issue, that these were throw away fighters designed to fly and fight a small amount of hours is not remotely accurate. The Corsair had one of the longest production runs followed by yeoman service for literally decades. Odegaard's restorations were legendary. Yes, he was probably one of the most experienced Corsair pilots to walk this planet prior to the accident flight. But in spite of it's virtually flawless rebuild combined with Bob's vast piloting experience, a fatal accident ensued. It was an accident pure and simple. Could it be pilot error or mechanical failure? Could it be pilot incapacitation? Yes, it could have any one of those scenarios or any combination of all three. Only time combined with a thorough investigation will the cause be known. Why don't we wait to find out the facts before we surmise the cause of the death of an irreplaceable human being who was a father,husband, friend, pilot,mechanic, and the loss of an irreplaceable airplane. Airplanes that are flown, whether they be a Cub, Bonanza, Cessna 172 or one of only 2 Super Corsairs in the world all have an opportunity to meet an untimely demise. The only way to ensure that no airplanes crash is to make sure they don't fly. Bob knew the risks better than most. He felt airplanes are to be flown, not be static museum pieces. But every flight has an element of risk. My heart breaks for his family, friends, and the aviation community as a whole. My prayers are for them...for us.

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Submitted by elmog on October 17, 2012.

Very sorry to hear about this latest crash. My condolences to the family of the pilot. Is it just me or does vast piloting experience and advanced age seems to be a common factor in the destruction of high-performance WWII aircraft in the last couple of years? Could be a combination of over- familiarity, degeneration of skills with age and the ability to withstand high G forces as one nears his seventies. Whatever it may be, it's hard to argue that being advanced in years is an advantage when operating aircraft of this type, regardless of the amount of piloting time one has amassed.

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Submitted by Martin E Haisman on October 20, 2012.

The people that have adverse comments about vintage aircraft obviously do not appreciate the high level of restoration and condition they are in. There is the throwaway disposable rubbish society that is more of a burden to refuse dumping in landfills and at sea, and those of us that maintain and take care of our possessions, and in cases of the warbirds not only for their own pleasure but the pleasure of others.

They are high profile accidents and as per the Reno accident somewhat negligent in not managing risk towards others, but how many thousands of warbird aircraft are fastidiously maintained and cared for. They are tested properly and as per the "hotrods" as mentioned, well planned and minimized risk to others that enjoy the racing events and risk mainly to the pilot.

Some may write off someone in their sixties but many are fitter than me in my forties!. It is definitely advisable in the seventies, even in good health to stop the high G stuff and fly for pleasure again putting too much risk on others.

Is your car in excellent condition? Have you ever driven until the wear indicator on the tyres is past the wear indicator and do you inspect them before you drive, every time. Have you ever driven with something not quite right and pulled over?

Obviously more people die on the ground then in the air. Just because you don't go up and down does not mean you will not kill. Again obviously these "hotrods" rarely kill anyone else. Next time you buy a new car with all the plastic fantastic interior and carbon fiber bits and pieces, even if the metal is recycled where does all that plastic and electronic stuff go, to be stuffed in a landfill or dumped at sea.

Thumbs up to the warbirds society and condolences to the Odegaard family.

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Bob Odegaard Killed in Crash of Super Corsair

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