Mini-Max down at fly-in, Benton, PA (PA40)

[flyingpreacher]

My wife got multiple phone calls and texts from her coworkers (EMS) asking if I was flying because they were responding to this accident. Pilot survived with serious injuries. Sounds like engine failure on takeoff with insufficient altitude for return to the field. Not sure that weather played a factor but weather was less than ideal for the fly-in and caused the turnout to be lower than usual.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/269001

https://www.wnep.com/article/news/l...unty/523-7e05c120-58d6-4fc5-8d1a-487ec524cbb0

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2405297854353/faa-investigating-airplane-crash-at-benton-airport

https://www.pressenterpriseonline.com/featuredphotos/plane-crash-in-benton

 

[Lowflynjack]

These lightweight aircraft fly like bricks when the engines quit. I had a Team Airbike and practicing engine-outs meant shoving the nose over for speed immediately. I've seen two Legal Eagles crash when their engines quit. It took seconds from the time their engines quit until they hit the ground.

 

[Daleandee]

Very little weight, fair amount of drag, and no inertia to speak of means when the engine quits the stick has to go forward immediately. Trying to turn back or stretch a glide when low and slow is not a wise thing to do in any plane and applies to small, lightweight planes like these as well.

The good news is that these can crash with less speed, force, and damage than a heavier, larger plane but the same rule applies if you let it stall and fall ... the result is not usually very good.

Glad the pilot will be OK. Planes are replaceable (well maybe not this particular one).