Plane Lands on Highway, Caught on Tape

looproll · Post by **looproll** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:19 am

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=492_1185225151

July 22

"On Sunday, a World War II-era North American T-6G made an emergency landing on a Wisconsin highway on the way to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis. Engine problems forced the airplane to land on Highway 41 near Fond du Lac Airport, and a state trooper caught the off-field touchdown on video. Neither pilot William J. Leff of Dayton, Ohio, nor his son suffered injuries, but the right wing of their airplane suffered damage after hitting highway signs."

AV8OR · Post by **AV8OR** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:51 am

Why was the state trooper running after the car?

Lommer · Post by **Lommer** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 11:14 am

Probably wanted it to stop so he could get the driver's info in case they needed him/her as a witness. I'm curious about the statement that the pilot "used an old cropduster trick" and bounced the plane over the first patrol car when it unexpectedly pulled out in front of him. I understand the mechanics of what the pilot did, but I'm interested to know when/why you'd use a manouver like that in cropdusting.

flyer · Post by **flyer** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 11:49 am

Many fields have irrigation systems which are long sprinkler systems that run the length of the field and stand upwards of 15'. When spraying, the planes just do an up and over to stay as close to the ground as possible but the 'old cropdusting' trick is probably refering to avoiding any thing like fences,roads,cows, etc..., back when less caution was taken in scouting your field before spraying...

phillyfan · Post by **phillyfan** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:34 pm

Maybe they were pulling out to nail the dude in the white car for speeding. One cop looked after the airplane the other chased down buddy in the car so he could give him his $50 ticket.

tofo · Post by **tofo** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:36 pm

did he look after the a/c so it woulden't get away?

Lommer · Post by **Lommer** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:46 am

Flyer, you mean that to avoid such obstacles cropdusters would actually bounce their wheels on the field? The pilot said he bounced the plane off the highway to avoid the first cop car as it pulled out in front of him, or at least that's the impression I got from the article linked in the other thread.

Glory. · Post by **Glory.** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:59 am

They could bounce their wheels on the field, i dont know

but i bet he did bounce it off the road due to the fact he had no engine to juss pull up and go over without losing a/s or an opening in the traffic?

who knows

flyer · Post by **flyer** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:53 am

they could if they had to, damage to a field would be negligable but they only would if something came up quick and caught them by surprise. The thing with most crop spraying pilots is they have 1000's of hours in one specific airplane, not just type, and they can do pretty much anything with them, some of which take a few beers to find out about. For the record, I've never flown ag, (I value summer time off) just done everything else associated with them for quite a few years, and heard many of those beer stories and seen a lot of neat things. For anyone who's interested, it's a great paying job where you can learn a lot about agriculture and aviation but it is hard work. There are a small number of ag flight schools now, but like everything else in aviation, it's expensive.

Jaques Strappe · Post by **Jaques Strappe** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:30 pm

I like how the Trooper instinctively had is left hand on his weapon ready to un holster it and unleash a wall of bullets into the pilot. It is freakin scary in the U.S

flyer · Post by **flyer** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:54 pm

Seen an RCMP or any city police pull over a speeder lately? They always walk up to the drivers side with their hand on their holster and then put their right hand on the top of the drivers door to hold it shut and stand back a bit so if the driver pulls anything on the officer, they would have to reach around, while the officer just pulls his gun out, and puts it to the back of the drivers head..., assuming they can shoot with their left...

AV8OR · Post by **AV8OR** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:09 pm

And to think that the police in the UK don't even carry firearms.

onceacop · Post by **onceacop** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:26 pm

I would bet a case a beer he is turning the volume up or down on his portable radio. He is using his fingers. Your whole hand is used to unholster a handgun. He then adjusts or keys his mic. to check the adjustment he made which hangs up on his right shoulder. I used to have that crap hanging on me in another life.