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A Bit Of Excitement

** Mary Moe**
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • An author observed and investigated an emergency landing of an apparently undamaged high-performance piston single on a private neighborhood runway, following a suspected engine-related issue.
  • By cross-referencing observations, ATC audio, and flight tracking data, the author pieced together the incident, commending the pilot's skillful landing on an unfamiliar strip.
  • The article concludes with a tribute to Robert A. "Bob" Wright, a renowned aviation safety expert, former FAA official, experienced pilot, and author, who recently passed away.
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I live close enough to a private runway that I walk by one end of it almost every day. So it was a few weeks ago when I encountered one of my neighbors hightailing it down the street on a single-seat ATV, pausing only long enough to share something about a crashed airplane at the far end of the runway before motoring off. I changed course in that direction long enough to spot what appeared to be a complete, undamaged airplane sitting in what passes for that runway’s run-up area.

Shortly, another ATV began towing the airplane toward me, so I reversed course and waited for it to roll past. It was a fixed-gear, high-performance piston single and it didn’t appear to have a scratch on it. The propeller blades were undamaged, it rolled easily, all the tires held air and there was no oil streaked down the side nearest me, nor an obvious fuel leak. I noted the registration and continued my stroll.

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