DK>          Date/location: APR-04-97 at NEW SMYRNA BCH, FL
DK>          Aircraft: Chance Vought F4U, registration: N45NL
DK>          Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
DK>          On April 4, 1997, about 1120 eastern standard time, a
DK>          Chance Vought F4U , registered to L Clark Hill Trustee,
DK>          operated by Collings Children's Trust, as a 14 CFR Part 91
DK>          personal flight experienced a total loss of engine power,
DK>          and ditched in the water adjacent to New Smyrna Beach,
DK>          Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no
DK>          flight plan was filed.
The no flight plan filed is a statement that the press loves.  They 
immediately insinuate that this is a contributing factor in the accident 
when it is nothing more than facts in the report.
DK>          The airplane sustained substantial
DK>          damage. The commercial pilot was not injured. The flight
DK>          originated from New Smyrna Beach about 50 minutes before
DK>          the accident. The pilot he had been flying over the water
DK>          at 3,500 feet, and another pilot was taking photos of his
DK>          airplane. The engine started sputtering. He confirmed the
DK>          fuel selector was on,
I think I would have switched tanks inaddition to checking fuel selector 
on.
DK>          boost pump was on high, mixture was
DK>          full rich, and that the magnetos were on both. The engine
DK>          continued to sputter.
Flying in South Florida and probably at reduced power setting and 
probably with something like a 172 (just conjecture) trying to take 
pictures at a slower speed I think I would have used some Carburator 
Heat as that's a real possibility there what with the high humidity and 
all.
DK>          He informed the other pilot that he
DK>          was returning to the airport. About 20 seconds later, the
DK>          engine quit. He declared an emergency and made a forced
DK>          landing to the water next to a boat. He exited the airplane
DK>          unassisted, and was picked up by personnel on the boat.
Was there a finding as to the probable cause of the accident or is it 
still in the mill (so to speak)?
___
 X CMPQwk 1.4 #1684 X "You'll have to remove your Uniform and step back 
through".
--- Maximus/2 3.01
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