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jCross | profile | all galleries >> LaPorte Airport (T41) >> Tomahawk Accident tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Tomahawk Accident

At about 5pm on May 19,2006, a Tomahawk crashed at LaPorte Airport. I arrived just after it happened and was wondering about all the commotion when I drove up. There were several news helos hovering around the airport.

The airplane, N2378K, went off the end of runway 30, collided with a fence and flipped over. The pilot was a student pilot out for some practice. He was injured and taken away by Life Flight helicopter. My understanding is that his injuries were not life-threatening.

The pilot was taking off on runway 30 and the interesting thing was that the wind was favoring Runway 12. As a matter of fact, I found some preliminary investigation information which indicated the airplane was taking off with 10 or more knots of tail wind component. That's weird.

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Guest 17-Jul-2006 10:57
John, outstanding photojournalistic work done on this gallery. Great job getting into the area and obtaining the photos. A moment captured in time...
Tom Beech27-Jun-2006 13:39
Or... 8-)
Tom Beech21-Jun-2006 22:15
With over 4K ft of Rwy you'd sure think he had enough room to break ground, lose power and still land and stop way short of the end..

Is it also odd that the flaps are down ?

Think the stall characteristics of this type might have played a part if he lost power in climb ?

Any thoughts ?
Tom Beech20-Jun-2006 22:04
Well, the prop is not bent so guess the engine must not have been running at the time of impact with the fence.. but did it quit in the climb out or did he shut it down when he knew he was going to crash ??

Or did he even get it into the air ?

I also have to wonder;

How hot was it that day ?

How much fuel did it have on board ?

Was he solo ?(I'd guess so since an instructor would not let him take off with the wind)

Did he start his roll less than at the far end of the Rwy ?

Were there tire marks from being hard on the brakes ? (no ABS option on these..right?)





jCross20-Jun-2006 18:29
Tom - He was taking off.
Tom Beech20-Jun-2006 18:22
Anyone know if this was intended to be a full stop landing or a touch and go ?
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