Our good friend, Jim Tobul, owner and pilot of the F-4U Corsair, "Korean War Hero" had a crash on landing at Atlanta's Peachtree Dekalb Airport today (Friday, May 16). The airplane was in a 30-knot direct crosswind that turned into a quartering tailwind on landing and the airplane flipped over, damaging the prop and vertical stabilizer. Jim got out OK! I spoke with him on the phone tonight and he said that all his safety gear worked properly, that his helmet got pretty banged up (better that than his head) and that he was able to get out because he lands and takes off with the canopy open. No fire. The airplane is going to be trucked to Colorado for repair; parts are already being pulled for a June 1st start. Jim says he'll have "Korean War Hero" back in the air this year!
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I was in the pattern with Jim and landed right in front of him. I had to wrestle my 182 to a landing. The wind & turbulence were mean, to say the least. I turned off the runway to see the results of his mishap. I can say it is understandable he had difficulty in those winds with a Corsair. I was almost in panic until we saw him standing outside the plane. Glad your OK Jim. Airplanes can be fixed. Friends are the precious things to have.
