B-17 Involved in a Midair Collision at Dallas Airshow

46,151 Views | 321 Replies | Last: 4 days ago by Eliminatus
Rapier108
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:02p, 11/12/22


I suspect we'll get tons of the usual calls to ground all vintage aircraft even though it is highly unlikely to have had anything to do with the age of the B-17.


Reply Quote
1 edit
BQ_90
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:05p, 11/12/22
AG
Looks like smaller plane flew into B17
Reply Quote
41
LMCane
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:06p, 11/12/22
awful on so many levels- there is the 8th Air Force Museum outside Savannah that was refurbishing a B-17 for decades.

there are so few of them left remaining, this is probably the final nail in them ever flying again. plus the folks in the aircraft who were killed.

just awful
Reply Quote
34
black_ice
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to BQ_90 • 2:06p, 11/12/22
BQ_90 said:
Looks like smaller plane flew into B17


Correct
Reply Quote
4
Funky Winkerbean
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:06p, 11/12/22
AG
That's terrible.
Reply Quote
13
LMCane
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to BQ_90 • 2:08p, 11/12/22
BQ_90 said:
Looks like smaller plane flew into B17
I believe that is a P-51 Mustang

I have never seen a maneuver like that where a Mustang will cross over and above a Flying Fortress. they are usually in trail behind and to the side of the bombers for just this reason.
Reply Quote
1
Rapier108
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to BQ_90 • 2:09p, 11/12/22
BQ_90 said:
Looks like smaller plane flew into B17
Yep, so the only question will be why, and I can only think of 4 reason why.

Intentional
Flight control failure
Pilot disorientation/medical emergency
Pilot not paying attention
Reply Quote
24
1 edit
FTAG 2000
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:11p, 11/12/22
AG
looks like the Mustang pilot wasn't aware of surroundings.

sick to my stomach watching that.
Reply Quote
28
FTAG 2000
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Rapier108 • 2:11p, 11/12/22
AG
Rapier108 said:
BQ_90 said:
Looks like smaller plane flew into B17
Yep, so the only question will be why, and I can only think of 4 reason why.

Intentional
Flight control failure
Pilot disorientation/medical emergency
Pilot not paying attention


the CAF pilots are all buddies and very close knit. think you can rule out that first one.
Reply Quote
30
Rapier108
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to FTAG 2000 • 2:12p, 11/12/22
FTAG 2000 said:
Rapier108 said:
BQ_90 said:
Looks like smaller plane flew into B17
Yep, so the only question will be why, and I can only think of 4 reason why.

Intentional
Flight control failure
Pilot disorientation/medical emergency
Pilot not paying attention


the CAF pilots are all buddies and very close knit. think you can rule out that first one.
I would put that one as the least likely, but not at zero.
Reply Quote
14
Ag87H2O
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:13p, 11/12/22
AG
The smaller plane hit the B-17 dead in the middle and chopped it in half. The pilot could not have hit it any more dead center if they tried. The crew of the B-17 had 3 seconds of terror before hitting the ground. Incredibly tragic on so many levels.
Reply Quote
9
Admiral_ZAX
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:15p, 11/12/22
AG
Couldn't tell from the videos but the b17 based on conroe was at the show.
Reply Quote
BQ78
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:18p, 11/12/22
AG
I hope they didn't have a plane load of visitors on the 17
Reply Quote
27
fire09
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:19p, 11/12/22
AG
It's really hard to tell from that angle, but my guess is the mustang pilot likely never saw the 17 until it was too late to correct.

He appeared to be in a higher angle turn, meaning b17 would be obstructed by nose and wings.

Tragic.
Reply Quote
19
2 edits
FTAG 2000
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:19p, 11/12/22
AG


Another angle.
Reply Quote
13
CyclingAg82
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:25p, 11/12/22
AG
God bless them.

Dang.
Reply Quote
11
The Kraken
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to fire09 • 2:25p, 11/12/22
AG
fire09 said:
It's really hard to tell from that angle, but my guess is the mustang pilot likely never saw the 17 until it was too late to correct.

He appeared to be in a higher angle turn, meaning b17 would be obstructed by nose and wings.

Tragic.
Agreed.
plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose
Reply Quote
7
AlaskanAg99
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:27p, 11/12/22
AG
Wow, the Mustang was in a turn and simply couldn't see the B17 from those multiple angle shots.

There will be a lot of finger pointing on why those flight oaths were set up that way.

Absolutely tragic.
Reply Quote
5
Whitetail
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:27p, 11/12/22
AG
It doesn't look like either planes could have seen each other from that angle.
Reply Quote
3
FTAG 2000
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:35p, 11/12/22
AG
little plane was p-63, not p-51. very limited visibility cockpit.

Reply Quote
26
YouBet
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:35p, 11/12/22
AG
Terrible. Thoughts and prayers for all.
Reply Quote
13
The Fife
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:36p, 11/12/22
Unless they're all painted the same, that's the one I saw at Charleston
Reply Quote
3
Eliminatus
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to YouBet • 2:37p, 11/12/22
AG
YouBet said:
Terrible. Thoughts and prayers for all.


Indeed. I am just not seeing how anyone survived in that bomber though.
Reply Quote
1
Teslag
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Eliminatus • 2:39p, 11/12/22
AG
The only saving grace they may have had was that the wing and fuel tanks separated from the fuselage. Still unlikely they survived but they didn't go in the fireball.
Reply Quote
1
Ag with kids
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:42p, 11/12/22
AG
Having lost 2 pilot friends in a flight test crash when I was at Bell, I am fighting back tears right now...
Reply Quote
25
nortex97
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to FTAG 2000 • 2:42p, 11/12/22
AG
Dang, I heard those are really 'weird' which is one reason they weren't picked/mass produced (and came late). Mid engine or some such.
Reply Quote
2
Gigem_94
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:45p, 11/12/22
AG
Prayers for those pilots and their families.
Reply Quote
2
80sGeorge
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
2:46p, 11/12/22
AG
Gotta hope the 17 wasn't full of paying passengers along for the ride. Hopefully they don't do ride alongs during the show portion. T&P for the crew
Reply Quote
6
Flying Crowbar
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to nortex97 • 2:47p, 11/12/22
AG
Yes, its engine is behind the pilot, which is an unusual configuration for a piston engine aircraft.
Reply Quote
The Kraken
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
3:00p, 11/12/22
AG
Any idea which B-17 this was?
plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose
Reply Quote
1
eric76
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to LMCane • 3:00p, 11/12/22
AG
LMCane said:
awful on so many levels- there is the 8th Air Force Museum outside Savannah that was refurbishing a B-17 for decades.

there are so few of them left remaining, this is probably the final nail in them ever flying again. plus the folks in the aircraft who were killed.

just awful
I don't see why this would stop them from flying again. It isn't like it was an issue with airworthiness.
Reply Quote
4
bthotugigem05
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
3:01p, 11/12/22
AG
So sad at the loss of life.
Reply Quote
4
The Kraken
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to The Kraken • 3:04p, 11/12/22
AG
New World Ag said:
Any idea which B-17 this was?
Answering my own question, looks like it was the Texas Raiders, based out of Conroe
plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose
Reply Quote
4
Pinochet
User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to LMCane • 3:07p, 11/12/22
LMCane said:
awful on so many levels- there is the 8th Air Force Museum outside Savannah that was refurbishing a B-17 for decades.

there are so few of them left remaining, this is probably the final nail in them ever flying again. plus the folks in the aircraft who were killed.

just awful

This won't keep them from flying. It may force the owner to get rid of the airplane because they can't get insurance (like the Collings Foundation after their B-17 incident), but the warbird community will always find a way to fly those airplanes. That's what they're for - flying. The pilot was part of the Tora group and the Dixie wing of CAF, so I feel for those guys and what they're dealing with right now. They are all top notch aviators and excellent ambassadors of the community.
Reply Quote
12
JB!98
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
3:10p, 11/12/22
AG
I saw this very type of race track formation for the fighters and straight and level run for the bombers at an airshow at Randolph in San Antonio. I believe it was a B-17 that was coming in straight and a corsair was coming around the circuit. Same thing, but the corsair pilot saw the B-17 at the last minute and was able to put a lot of G on the airplane and avoid the collision. By a lot of G, I have never seen a WWII aircraft with vapor coming off the wing and wing root like on that corsair.

Had they collided it would have have rained debris and burning fuel on us. It scared the hell out of me and obviously the corsair pilot. He immediately landed after that. He may have overstressed that beautiful old bird.

Prayers for those that lost their lives. Tragic.
Reply Quote
9
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.