Extra 300 crash near Mesa Arizona

[tonyhunt]

An Extra 300 has crashed near Mesa Arizona with two fatalities reported. Possibly one of the training aircraft from Fighter Combat International.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... h0509.html

[Strega]

anyone know who was onboard?

[Blakey]

An Extra 300 has crashed near Mesa Arizona with two fatalities reported. Possibly one of the training aircraft from Fighter Combat International.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... h0509.html

Local news says it was.

http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?Cont ... 468a86b1c4

Condolences to the families.

[Strega]

I dont see it.

[BoostedNihilist]

.

[Hedley]

Are they the same people that wrote off two
Extra 300's at Pax River?

[tonyhunt]

Here is an update:
http://www.abc15.com/mostpopular/story. ... 74f5e19ec1
The same group operates Extra 300s under two business names: Fighter Combat International (FCI) and Aviation Performance Systems (APS).

"The pilot, who was one of two people killed in a small plane crash Friday, has been identified as 57-year-old Jim Clapper. Aviation Performance Solutions (APS) said Clapper flew six-years for the Air Force and had 20-years experience flying aerobatics."

"Ransbury said this is the first airborne accident in the company's history."

There are several ex-CF Hornet pilots involved with this company, including BJ Ransbury.

[Hedley]

Fighter Combat International ... this is the first
airborne accident in the company's history

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/ctragna.htm

Lieutenant Commander Christopher Tragna, a Navy pilot, was killed April 2, 2002, when two contractor-owned, two-seater airplanes collided during a formation takeoff at 2:50 p.m., at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

Both planes are owned by Fighter Combat International. The two Extra 300L propeller planes were operating at NAS Patuxent River under a contract with the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.

[tonyhunt]

Good catch, Hedley. I included the "quote" from the news item because I was pretty sure it was not their first accident.

"Ransbury said this is the first ... " etc.

[cgzro]

yes, I flew a bunch of hours with them 10 years ago in Niagra, before the Arlington midair. A very safe operation I thought and they are what gave me the incentive to buy a Pitts.

Very unfortuante.

[Extradriver]

I think if you guys actually read the quote it says,

"Ransbury said this is the first airborne accident in the company's history."

Pax River was not an airborne accident.