News New York plane crash: WW2 aircraft in Hudson River.

[Notebook]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36404322

A vintage World War Two aircraft has crashed in the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey.

The plane - a single-seater P-47 Thunderbolt - went down two miles (3.2km) south of George Washington Bridge.

Divers later recovered a body - believed to be that of the pilot - from the submerged plane.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

...

 

[Hielor]

At the risk of being disrespectful, what sort of terrible journalism is this?

Divers later recovered a body - believed to be that of the pilot - from the submerged plane.

If the body was recovered from the wreckage of a single seat aircraft, it's probably the pilot.

 

[Linguofreak]

At the risk of being disrespectful, what sort of terrible journalism is this?



If the body was recovered from the wreckage of a single seat aircraft, it's probably the pilot.

But someone could have rigged the plane for radio control, kidnapped a guy and stuck him in the pilot's seat, and then sent him for a swim in the Hudson. Because that is definitely not the most Rube Goldbergy murder plot ever thought up. The all-wise journalists, rulers of the universe, have spoken. :shifty:

 

[Urwumpe]

It could also be another victim of another crime, that was just on the same place. Until you really had to cut him from his seat, he is only "likely the pilot" for good truthful journalists.

The P-47 has a rather roomy cockpit, so it is also possible for people without interest in warbirds to assume a second person there.

 

[ADSWNJ]

RIP pilot. For those not local, it's a big military weekend in NY, coinciding with Memorial Day (remembering military who gave their lives for the USA). It's "Fleet Week" as well, with a flotilla of navy ships also in town, and a big Jones Beach airshow as well (for which this P-47 was doing some promo material).

It went down close to where Sully's "Miracle on the Hudson" crash-landing happened.

 

[Andy44]

At the risk of being disrespectful, what sort of terrible journalism is this?



If the body was recovered from the wreckage of a single seat aircraft, it's probably the pilot.

Until the identity is confirmed they aren't going to stick their foot in their mouth.

Also it didn't say if the body came out of the cockpit or was found elsewhere.

This being the Hudson River, you shouldn't be surprised if you find the odd body here and there.

 

[ADSWNJ]

http://twitchy.com/gregp-3534/2016/...-the-hudson-river-pilot-rescued-photos-video/

 

[Notebook]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/36408148

Aircraft recovered.

N.

 

[RisingFury]

Amazing! Aircraft is seemingly without damage! I'm sure there's damage due to water and things broken, but I'd expect the wings to snap off, the fuselage to buckle and the propeller to break, at least...

We'll see if a video surfaces that shows the impact in more detail. I'd also like to know what the cause of death was for the pilot - did he survive the impact unconscious and drown or die on impact?

Flaps are down, indicating the pilot expected to ditch.

 

[Andy44]

P-47s are tough beasts.

 

[RisingFury]

P-47s are tough beasts.

Yea, I get it - they are made to pull high Gs, but at high speed, even water acts like concrete. The state of the airplane would definitely indicate that the pilot was aware of the problem and trying to land safely.

I wonder if it was an engine failure.

 

[Mojave]

P-47s are tough beasts.

Yeah, just look at Robert S. Johnson's P-47. Not surprised this one is in such good shape.

 

[Hielor]

I wonder if it was an engine failure.

The lower prop blade is bent and none of the others are--definitely suggests to me that the propeller wasn't spinning at the time of impact.

 

[ADSWNJ]

Per Gary Lewi, a spokesman for the American Airpower Museum, the aircraft suffered an inflight engine failure, and was attempting an emergency landing. The pilot was 56 year-old William Gordon, from Key West FL, a veteran air show performer.
Source

 

[Andy44]

Yea, I get it - they are made to pull high Gs, but at high speed, even water acts like concrete. The state of the airplane would definitely indicate that the pilot was aware of the problem and trying to land safely.

I wonder if it was an engine failure.

P-47s are capable of taking much abuse from weapons damage as well as high G's, and in the case of a water landing, may be able to survive an impact that might rip the wings off of a lesser airframe.

It may be possible that it nosed over on its back after the forced landing, which would not be a good thing for the pilot.

 

[boogabooga]

Not the first warbird to go down to engine failure, unfortunately.

I've been fortunate to see many flying at airshows, but every time one is lost, I wonder if it is time to start thinking about grounding them so they can be preserved for future generations.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Well... As long as you have the data plate from the manufacturer, and a full set of blueprints, you can rebuild a new bird essentially from scratch.