Tornado hit our airport (KDTO) last night

[SixPapaCharlie]

Photos courtesy of Zack Roland (a controller at the field)

 

[kayoh190]

Ugh - that's horrible.

 

[Bill]

Ugh, lots of damage. Was your plane spared?

 

[rtk11]

Wow! Hopefully nobody was hurt?

 

[edo2000]

Wow. Looks like a nightmare.

 

[Tarheelpilot]

That's a sad sight. Fortunately none of the bent metal was pilot error. Hope the insurance was paid up

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

Ugh, lots of damage. Was your plane spared?

Fortunately yes. They called me to let me know this morning that while the plane is safe and undamaged it is trapped inside a hanger. They cannot get the doors open but our Hangar was one that was spared for the most part I think there were four or five planes in there that managed to be "seemingly" undamaged

 

[Ronbonjovi]

This makes me cringe... Hope everyone was alright. I'm new to the world of aviation. If you had the proper insurance how would they react to this? Would they factor in you had yours in a hangar vs tied down outside? Could you expect your premiums to increase significantly, or they just cut you a check for what it's worth and then you buy a new plane with a new policy?

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

Wow! Hopefully nobody was hurt?

No one was hurt. Well nothing being reported yet.

I think it was about 3:30 this morning when I woke up and it sounded like all hell was breaking loose my wife and kids were all sleeping like Angels. I'm running around the house freaking out LOL

 

[RyanB]

Sad deal! Hate to see this.

 

[kayoh190]

I think it was about 3:30 this morning when I woke up and it sounded like all hell was breaking loose my wife and kids were all sleeping like Angels. I'm running around the house freaking out LOL

How close are you to the airport?

Glad everyone is safe.

 

[Joey4420]

Oh that would suck.

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

@AggieMike88 , @JCranford ... Your planes ok?

 

[luvflyin]

Ouch. I wonder what the "damn, my poor airplane" to the "jackpot, get my agent on the phone" ratio is.

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

How close are you to the airport?

Glad everyone is safe.

6 miles

 

[Clark1961]

They had'em tied down but it looks like they weren't strong enough.

 

[simtech]

Wow, what a sad sight to see. Glad you and your plane are okay. Waiting to hear from @AggieMike88

 

[George Mohr]

Terrible.

 

[Rebel Lord]

Photos courtesy of Zack Roland (a controller at the field)


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Jesus thats heart breaking

 

[rtk11]

No one was hurt. Well nothing being reported yet.

I think it was about 3:30 this morning when I woke up and it sounded like all hell was breaking loose my wife and kids were all sleeping like Angels. I'm running around the house freaking out LOL

Fingers crossed that there's no reported injuries.

Wow - were those flipped birds tied-down? Do you know what scale the tornado was? It looks like pretty substantial damage.

So... I"m guessing your backdoor repair withstood the storm since the family was sleeping well? Doggie door survived even?

 

[arkvet]

They had'em tied down but it looks like they weren't strong enough.

That's what I was looking at too... I see several rope portions still tied to the rings on some of the ones that are on their back side. Can't really blame the guy that tied it up on that one. From looking at the damage it looks like the only thing that would have prevented this would have been to be tied down/hangared in a different county.

 

[bnt83]

Between storm damage and humans wrecking them are we losing ground on active flyable aircraft in the fleet?

Certainly must be losing ground on affordable ones.

 

[MAKG1]

Yikes, that's nasty looking. It's good everyone is OK.

 

[Clark1961]

That's what I was looking at too... I see several rope portions still tied to the rings on some of the ones that are on their back side. Can't really blame the guy that tied it up on that one. From looking at the damage it looks like the only thing that would have prevented this would have been to be tied down/hangared in a different county.

I've seen chain and cable system be enough to secure aircraft in winds near 100 mph at BJC. Ropes are at greater risk for either mechanical or environmental damage. I learned to carry my own tie down straps after visiting a few airports. I'm almost to the point of asking that I be allowed to tie it down myself at the park-n-tow places....and then there are the places like Sidney NE where the FBO guy will have you tied down by the time the prop stops and the ropes are new 3/4 inch with properly seized ends...

 

[Badger]

ouch.

Any idea of the max wind?

 

[AggieMike88]

Additional photos... Courtesy of Zack Roland (Apologies if some are repeats from Bryan's post)

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

 

[AggieMike88]

Additional photos... Courtesy of Zack Roland (Apologies if some are repeats from Bryan's post)

 

[AggieMike88]

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That's 94 knots folks! (108 MPH)

 

[bnt83]

I would be sour if my meticulously tied down plane was crushed by another plane falling on it lol.

 

[AggieMike88]

IT is likely a safe bet that US Aviation is gonna rethink that tiedown system. It's just a cable stretched along the line, anchored at appropriate intervals to the concrete. Still lots of slack when the airplane decides to go into hover mode.

 

[simtech]

Was this a confirmed tornado or straight line winds?

 

[Anthony]

Wow, that is terrible.

 

[Clark1961]

IT is likely a safe bet that US Aviation is gonna rethink that tiedown system. It's just a cable stretched along the line, anchored at appropriate intervals to the concrete. Still lots of slack when the airplane decides to go into hover mode.

The cable has to have sufficient tension so that there isn't a lot of give when the aircraft is secured. With a student and instructor it's simple to tie the wings down then push the aircraft back a little bit to tie the tail down. The end result is a preloaded tiedown.

 

[AggieMike88]

Was this a confirmed tornado or straight line winds?

For the moment, I'm thinking straight line winds. Damage was very localized.

 

[AggieMike88]

Here are the METARS from last night...

KDTO 230153Z 15005KT 10SM BKN070 22/16 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP123 T02220161
KDTO 230253Z 12009KT 10SM FEW070 22/16 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP118 T02220161 58001
KDTO 230353Z AUTO 16008KT 10SM CLR 21/16 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP124 T02060161
KDTO 230453Z AUTO 14008KT 10SM CLR 19/17 A2992 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NW SLP123 T01940167
KDTO 230603Z AUTO 15013G31KT 1/2SM +TSRA FG FEW015 BKN025 OVC065 15/15 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT ALQDS RAB0554 P0085 T01500150 $
KDTO 230653Z AUTO 14005KT 10SM CLR 15/15 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT E AND SE RAB0554E29 TSE31 SLPNO P0100 T01500150 $
KDTO 230753Z AUTO 17007KT 10SM CLR 16/16 RMK AO2 SLPNO T01610161 $
KDTO 230853Z AUTO 02003KT 9SM SCT047 16/ RMK AO2 SLPNO 60100 T0156 $
KDTO 230953Z AUTO 01003KT 10SM FEW025 SCT049 16/16 RMK AO2 SLPNO T01610161 $
KDTO 231053Z 01003KT 10SM BKN048 16/16 RMK AO2 SLPNO T01610161 $
KDTO 231153Z 01004KT 6SM BR FEW070 16/16 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP118 60100 70100 T01560156 10178 20150 $
KDTO 231253Z 33003KT 10SM BKN025 BKN036 17/17 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP118 T01720167 $
KDTO 231353Z 29003KT 10SM OVC026 18/18 A2990 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SW SLP122 T01780178 $

 

[AggieMike88]

I was woken up when the cell passed over my house. 15 minutes of intense wind, heavy downburst of rain, and lots and lots of pea sized hail. That was about 1:20AM or so.

 

[AggieMike88]

@AggieMike88 , @JCranford ... Your planes ok?

Yes. Both are okay.

I went by the airport shortly after 8:00 to verify. We have our usual lake in front of the hangar from the rain, but fortunately our entire hangar row escaped any noticeable damage.

 

[SixPapaCharlie]

Was this a confirmed tornado or straight line winds?

Unsure at this time. The controller who notified us said it was an unreported tornado. So that's all the information I have. I can't find anything about an actual tornado last night.