Small plane flips at First Flight airstrip

| September 23, 2012

Sandra Jett Ball photo

Sam Walker photo


A single-engine plane ran into trouble Sunday after landing at First Flight Airport at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills.

The private aircraft, carrying a male pilot and female passenger, had just touched down on the runway around 3 p.m. when a gust of wind caused the plane to make a hard left turn off the asphalt, and the airplane nosed over.

The pilot and passenger were not hurt, and declined to comment.

The aircraft was up-righted by hand, and pushed by several people to the small tarmac at the First Flight Airport. The propeller and left wing tip showed visible damage.

National Park Service law enforcement rangers, units from the Kill Devil Hills Police and Fire departments, and the Highway Patrol responded to the incident.

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See what people are saying:

  • XZDC says:

    OOOPS ! Glad no one was hurt. Dont feel too bad, a couple brothers did this more than once.

    • on September 24, 2012 @ 8:08 am

  • Glasspilot says:

    This is a very typical accident with a conventional (tailwheel) gear airplane. “Taildraggers” are a lot harder to land and takeoff than tri-cycle gear planes, which is why tri-cycle gear is almost universally used now.

    Typical over reaction on the part of authorities. The plane was righted and rolled over to the parking area by the time all the expensive government vehicles arrived. Glad no one was hurt.

    • on September 24, 2012 @ 9:16 am

  • Alice Ann says:

    Thanks to XZDC for keeping life in perspective. Have a grat week everyone.

    • on September 24, 2012 @ 9:45 am

  • Tim says:

    The plane has done well since it was built in 1959 and after the engine is rebuilt and the wing repaired it will be back in the air again. The owner will remember to stay on the rudder until it stops, tail draggers require more attention than tricycle gear planes after touchdown. The wind was right down the runway there which should have made it easier too, the cross winds at KFFA are awful.

    • on September 24, 2012 @ 11:46 am

  • Donald Ball says:

    Hey, Russ et al that is not Brenda Griffin Watt’s picture! Please fix the attribution. It was taken by Sandra Jett Ball.

    • on September 25, 2012 @ 12:34 pm

  • Sam Walker says:

    Sorry for the mistake on the photo attribution. I mixed up the multiple photos I received in the same e-mail.

    • on September 25, 2012 @ 6:42 pm

  • OBX says:

    Ummmm, glasspilot….there are photos going around that show the “expensive” and “overreacting” vehicles and officials on scene with the plane still sitting on it’s nose. You lose a turn, go back to start.

    • on September 25, 2012 @ 9:12 pm

  • katie says:

    I drove by and saw all the emergency officials on the runway while plane was still nose down. Ain’t seen something like this in a while!

    • on September 26, 2012 @ 9:22 am

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