Texas Air Aces loses 2nd T-34

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flyover

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Texas Air Aces http://www.airaces.com/home.htm has lost their second T-34 in a year to a wing separation. Both occupants killed. Add these to the tragedy in Georgia in 1999 and it may be time to call a halt. You can find reports on KHOU-TV website or Avflash.

From Avflash: >>A Texas air-combat simulation and upset-recovery training center has temporarily suspended operations after losing a second aircraft in just over a year to an apparent wing separation. The Texas Air Aces T-34 went down Tuesday about three miles from where a similar aircraft crashed on Nov. 19, 2003. In both crashes, the two people aboard the aircraft were killed. And in both tragedies, witnesses reported seeing one of the wings snap off before the aircraft spiraled into the ground near Lake Conroe.<<

Very tragic. T-34 operators have tried very hard to keep the FAA from barring aerobatics, and trying to avoid expensive mods, but this is getting old (as is the T-34).

Condolences to the families.
 
Dave
Truly a tragedy, One must wonder if it could have been avoided.
Are you aware if these airplanes had the wing spar Mods done? The reason I'm asking is my Boss just had his T-34 done over to include the very expensive Mod. If the FAA barrs aerobatics will he have spent his money in vane?

Jim
 
Boy I don't know. Avflash is reporting a rumor that this T-34 had had a Beech Baron spar installed.

So far the ADs have been for inspections, with some people getting spar mods.

Check out Avweb.com. They have a lot of info on the AD history.

Or more detailed info at: http://www.t-34.com/spar.asp
 
Not many people interested in this subject but for those that are:

The FAA has grounded all the T-34s. The crash in Texas apparently involved a crack in an area of the spar that hadn't been part of the AD.

So three wing failures involving T-34s used in mock combat. And now the whole fleet is grounded, whether you do acro or not.

The T-34 community is rightfully upset.

Updates on AvWeb.
 
I read somewhere that this latest T34 had been inspected, but had NOT complied with the AD yet.

I am curious why out of 6 pilots none have attempted to bail out?. Surely during "mock combat" aerobatics they are wearing parachutes.
 
I think it had complied. What has gotten the FAA's attention is this latest failure happened in an area the AD had not been concerned with.

And I have no doubt that all of them desperately tried to bail out. But the g-loads associated with a missing wing wouldn't allow for that.
 
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