Jack Roush Crashes at Oshkosh

[rpm]

NASCAR Team co-owner Jack Roush is in serious but stable condition following a "landing accident" at the famed EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The event is the largest annual gathering of aviation enthusists in America. During the gathering it is officially the world's busiest control tower.

According to a report at AVweb, it appeared that Roush aborted landing on Runway 18R and was attempting a goaround when the wingtip of his Beechcraft Premier caught the ground. The twin engine jet pancaked, then slid across the grass and broke apart at Whitman Regional Airport.

Roush (68) sustained serious injuries and his passenger Brenda Strickland (61) non life threatening injuries. Both walked away from the crash.

The NTSB is investigating.

Radio transmissions between Roush (callsign: Premier) and ATC can be heard here.

This is the second serious crash Roush has had as a pilot. In 2002 he narrowly escaped death when his twin engine CamAir struck powerlines and cartwheeled into an Alabama lake. Former Marine Larry Hicks, who witnessed the crash, jumped in a nearby boat and rescued Roush.

[Chalenge]

Man I hate seeing anybody hurt but it pains me almost as much to see that beautiful airplane bent like that! OUCH!

[Tec]

Man those guys are cool as a cucumber.

[VonMessa]

I was gonna fly out with one of my fellow EAA chapter members, but the field conditions were like a swamp.  This is probably the main reason for making the choice at a go-around.

It's not like it was a secret, either.  I must have gotten 10 emails with that information between EAA, AOPA, Kitplanes, etc.

[Fishu]

Maybe his pilot license should be withdrawn by now. He's getting old and seems to be doing things he should not be doing in a plane. You don't go flying into powerlines and you do not do go-around once you pass the decision point (or else this can happen).

[FiLtH]

   Thats why I dont fly.

    I'd be like "Huh?" 

  " Turn left runway 18 right downwind avoid traffic 18 left"

    "Whatever dude, Im just gonna try and land ok?"

[007Rusty]

video of him walking out the crash http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2010/07/28/vo.wi.oshkosh.airshow.crash.cnn

Nascar.com story
http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/headlines/cup/07/27/jroush.plane.crash.wisconsin/index.html

[Golfer]

Maybe his pilot license should be withdrawn by now. He's getting old and seems to be doing things he should not be doing in a plane. You don't go flying into powerlines and you do not do go-around once you pass the decision point (or else this can happen).

That is a very thorough and well thought out thing to say, Fishu.    Crazy old guy had a mishap while trying to land his airplane.  Who tries to land their airplanes in this day in age?

Exactly what defines "decision point" anyway?

The accident 8 years ago in Alabama is fairly well documented and he was quite lucky to be alive.  Without any further knowledge of exactly what happen it's best to reserve judgement until the facts are released.  While pilots do make mistakes as they're all human.  Through other sources the airplane was told to have stalled before it touched down.  Through a number of studies it's been found that pilots make the worst eye witnesses in airplane accidents because they immediately try to interpret what they see.  I'd put money on the airplane didn't "stall" from any appreciable height due to both some of the aerodynamic qualities of the Premier but as well as some of the equipment installed.  While it will take quite a bit of force to dislodge the front from the back the fact is we don't know what happened yet and any knee jerk suggestion is a bad one.  Especially when it comes to pulling someones tickets.  "It" happens and but for the grace of god go I.

Sitting curiously wondering what could make the front fall off in such a way.

[Shamus]

I remember years ago when I used to fly there was a guy by the name of Ed Cole, a GM president, who used to fly out of some of the same places I did. The guy had lots of money and a fighter pilots attitude with low hours, used to buy hot planes. I remember many of the old WW2 dudes saying "that guy is going to kill himself", he did.

shamus

[stroker71]

Is Jack in SAPP?   

Glad he's alright...atleast it wasn't one of his Mustangs!

WMBohicA

[bcadoo]

That is a very thorough and well thought out thing to say, Fishu.    Crazy old guy had a mishap while trying to land his airplane.  Who tries to land their airplanes in this day in age?

Exactly what defines "decision point" anyway?

The accident 8 years ago in Alabama is fairly well documented and he was quite lucky to be alive.  Without any further knowledge of exactly what happen it's best to reserve judgement until the facts are released.  While pilots do make mistakes as they're all human.  Through other sources the airplane was told to have stalled before it touched down.  Through a number of studies it's been found that pilots make the worst eye witnesses in airplane accidents because they immediately try to interpret what they see.  I'd put money on the airplane didn't "stall" from any appreciable height due to both some of the aerodynamic qualities of the Premier but as well as some of the equipment installed.  While it will take quite a bit of force to dislodge the front from the back the fact is we don't know what happened yet and any knee jerk suggestion is a bad one.  Especially when it comes to pulling someones tickets.  "It" happens and but for the grace of god go I.

Sitting curiously wondering what could make the front fall off in such a way.

Very difficult to say without seeing actual video of the accident.  I remember seeing a dc-9/md-80 lose its tail in a landing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCuTW2wEtsM) and they had to strengthen the rear fuselage. 

[Babalonian]

Maybe his pilot license should be withdrawn by now. He's getting old and seems to be doing things he should not be doing in a plane. You don't go flying into powerlines and you do not do go-around once you pass the decision point (or else this can happen).

My exact same thoughts on this... so now, who wants to be the one to go break that news to the NASCAR team co-owner? 

   Thats why I dont fly.

    I'd be like "Huh?" 

  " Turn left runway 18 right downwind avoid traffic 18 left"

    "Whatever dude, Im just gonna try and land ok?"

Turn left (to aproach) runway 18 right [runway bearing 180 degrees, right-hand strip] downwind [general wind direction. downwind is it at your back I believe] avoid (air) traffic 18 left [avoid air traffic currently in the area of runway bearing 180 degrees, left-hand strip].

Sounds like he probabley went into the ground with the right wingtip if he was trying to go around... if it was his left as he ventured twords 18L then there would be some more questions for the pilot to answer about his decision making.

[Stoney]

Its obvious from the audio that there was a disconnect between he and the controller.  It'll be interesting to see what comes out in the wash.  Regardless, I'm glad everyone got out safe.

[cattb]

planes and power lines just don't mix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoehnHPYcHw&feature=related

[avionix]

Maybe his pilot license should be withdrawn by now. He's getting old and seems to be doing things he should not be doing in a plane. You don't go flying into powerlines and you do not do go-around once you pass the decision point (or else this can happen).

This same mentality occured when the great Bob Hoover stumbled while getting out of his aircraft after performing his routine at an airshow.  He was getting late in years, but still in better shape than the FAA inspector that pulled his ticket on the spot.  He did get his ticket back, but the damage to his image had been done and he was no longer able to get insurance for his shows.