Question about an old Perris incident

[ChrisL 2]

I was watching a show last night called "Sports accidents" or something like that
and they showed footage of an accident that happened at Perris where one engine on the plane caught fire on the ground before takeoff and the entire plane burned.

Everyone got out fine, but from the looks of the plane and the gear the jumpers were wearing I'd say it had to have happened about 20 years ago. (wild guess)

They (as usual) were completely lacking in any any interesting details. They didnt even say it was Perris, but I saw the name stenciled on the fuselage of the plane
in one shot.

Just wondering if anyone had any more details on that incident.

Like the date, what type of aircraft that was (was it a DC-3?), if they found a cause for the fire, etc

__

My mighty steed

[PhreeZone 20]

Search the history fourm for a DC-3 at Perris. They ave some first hand stories there.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[airtwardo 7]

I saw that too..."Sports Disasters"

I was there that day, though not on the aircraft...If memory serves Capt. Hook was flying.

I taped the show...and looked at that footage several times last night...BOY has the scenery at Perris changed!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[NWFlyer 2]

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I was there that day,

Is it just me, or is 'twardo kind of the Forrest Gump of skydiving? Not in terms of level of intelligence, but in his tendency to be present at all its memorable events.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[airtwardo 7]

Like a box of chocolates...

Back then I had no 'commitments' other than job & jumping.
I spent A LOT of time at a LOT of DZ's
I'm sitting here going through some old shoe boxes...somewhere I've got some PICs of the burned out bird from Perris.

I've REALLY gotta get this stuff organized...

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

Dunno if MJO "Sparky" was on that load or not, but I'm pretty sure Rich Brooks was, don't know if he posts here or not.

[Dougiefresh 0]

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I'm sitting here going through some old shoe boxes...somewhere I've got some PICs of the burned out bird from Perris.

I've REALLY gotta get this stuff organized...

Can I help? I'll bet you've got some treasures in those old boxes. You have such great stories in your head, I can hardly imagine the pics!

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. --Douglas Adams

[mjosparky 4]

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Dunno if MJO "Sparky" was on that load or not, but I'm pretty sure Rich Brooks was, don't know if he posts here or not.

No I wasn't on the load or there that day. Rich Brooks was on the load. Skip was flying the plane. Chet Bennet was the big hero that day. He took charge at the door and got everybody out in an orderly manner.

About 6 or 7 years ago I was involved in the filming of a recreation of the event for some TV program but I am not sure if it ever aired

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[mjosparky 4]

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Just wondering if anyone had any more details on that incident.

Like the date, what type of aircraft that was (was it a DC-3?), if they found a cause for the fire, etc

I can't remember the date but it was a DC-3. The cause was an engine mound snapped during the take off role and when the engine shifted it broke a fuel line.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[davedlg 0]

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Search the history fourm for a DC-3 at Perris. They ave some first hand stories there.

I saw that last night too and was wondering. Here's the link: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=994900#994900

[Vectracide 0]

I saw that clip as well. It was a hauting clip as I saw my tandem master from 93, Greg in it. Greg was killed in a tandem incident in Hawaii several years ago. It was cool to see him again on video, waaaaaay before I did my tandem. He was a pro.

------------------------------

Controlled and Deliberate.....

[itllclear 1]

Here's a link to the NTSB report.

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001214X36487&key=1

"Harry, why did you land all the way out there? Nobody else landed out there."

"Your statement answered your question."

[jbrasher 1]

Spraky,

It was a creak in one of the blades on the left engine. The blade left as the plane started picking up speed....guess what happened to the left engine when all that rotational energy got unbalanced.

Anyway once the engine was gone the gasoline was still being pumped and the exhausts start it on fire. Skipper got it stopped and everyone exiting in an orderly manner, under Chet's watchful eye.
Bob Butt left his frap hat in the plane (a good reason to wear your helmets for takeoff) and it was lost.
Jerry Spenser took the footage and later sold it to someone and that's what you keep seeing.
Mikey Quasniak(sp) was along for the ride and he and Skip had to exit thru the crew hatch on top of the cockpit. They went down the top of the fusilage and off the right wing root while the left side was fully engulfed.

It didn't take long for the plane to be totally gone, aluminum burns pretty well.

The next day the skeleton was about 1/3 normal size because of shrinkage and it's buried along side the runway.

We lucked out, another 30 seconds and we might have lost 30+ good friends.

A few weeks later someone found the prop blade a 1/4 1/2 mile away.

I was in the parking lot having a beer with Dirty Ed when we heard the engine noises not be right and noticed the smoke and came over to watch the show.

Red, White and Blue Skies,

John T. Brasher D-5166

[kleggo 145]

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I was watching a show last night called "Sports accidents" or something like that
and they showed footage of an accident that happened at Perris where one engine on the plane caught fire on the ground before takeoff and the entire plane burned.

__________________________________________________
regarding this thread and the included link in the post above.

i had the pleasure ? of witnessing both incidents first hand.
I was in 817 when we were preparing for take off roll at the north end of the runway when the DAC3 threw a prop blade and turned a sweet plane into so much scrap.
After we got out and had a few beverages at the old bombshelter we were plenty happy that most of us had survived our first airplane fire without a scratch.

John B. , thanks for calling me a friend that was early 85 i think????????

the 150 into the DAC3?
another sad story.
We were at the old Perris Valley Aviation Maintenance hanger waiting to board. Since it might have been the 1st flight of the day we had plenty of time to stand around and watch stuff as the DAC3 warmed up her engines.
We saw the 150 pilot attempt a downwinder and abort one landing pass.
Did that give them pause for thought?
NO!
they tried again and as we saw the 150 bouncing down and off the runway to the left towards us we scattered and watched another DAC3 die.
early 84????

be safe

kleggo

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[MakeItHappen 15]

I was not there when it happen, but came down from NorCal the next week end.

The wreckage was still out there, so I took my dog Pete to view it.

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Make It Happen
Parachute History
DiveMaker

[skybill 22]

Hi Chris!!<
JTB is on it and so am I!!! "No Shit, There I was, Thought I was gonna Die!!!!!" Sinko-D-Mayo of 1985 in the late afternoon!! The plane was N157Ugly. The story is also wrote up on the History and Trivia forum on Steve1's thread, "Scary stories from the old daze!!" I was in the plane, got the video too, and a box of hardened melted aluminum puddles from where the plane burned up at the end of the "old" runway!!!!

SCR-2034, SCS-680

III%,
Deli-out