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Science & Technology
Restored Fighter Jet Crashes, 1 Killed
2006-07-25
HICKORY, N.C. (AP) - A restored Korean War-era military jet crashed and burst into flames Monday, killing the pilot shortly after the F-86 Sabre took off, authorities said. The single-seat plane crashed several hundred feet from the Hickory Regional Airport runway, said airport spokeswoman Mandy Pitts. The ejection seat wasn't used, officials said.

The aircraft was headed to an air show in Wisconsin, Pitts said.

Federal Aviation Administration agents had not released the pilot's name by Monday evening. Family and friends, however, identified the pilot as Wyatt Fuller of Hickory. Fuller's warplane collection included a T-6 World War II trainer, a T-33 jet and the F-86 Sabre jet that crashed.

The cause of the 11:40 a.m. crash has not been determined. The FAA was investigating. Lt. Col. Jim Carr, a member of the Civil Air Patrol and a friend, said Fuller had trouble with the jet's landing wheels when he returned from his last aviation show in Alabama.
There's the trouble with flying restored, vintage warbirds: every once in a while something bad goes wrong, and when it does you're really screwed. Condolences to the family.
Posted by:Steve White

#5  Did the F-86 have ejection seats while in service?
Posted by: 6   2006-07-25 19:52  

#4  Throger-
Absolutely right that warbirds do not - for the most part - have functioning ejection seats. The cockpit of a jet fighter is a literal symphony of explosives and although they are quite safe to handle with the proper training and storage, that stuff costs big bucks. I only know of one jet warbird that has functioning seats; one's owned by a historical foundation that has coughed up the money to do it right.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2006-07-25 16:46  

#3  My heart goes out to the family.
Posted by: Charles   2006-07-25 10:30  

#2  Flameout on takeoff. Not good.
Posted by: mojo   2006-07-25 10:11  

#1  The previous problem with the landing gear was not neccessarily related to the crash. It is my understanding that a great many jet warbirds do NOT have a active ejection seats. It takes expensive & specific training and continuing maintainance to make them safe for flight. God bless the pilot & his family.
Posted by: Throger Thains8048   2006-07-25 02:06  

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