Genesseo 2011 Mishaps
Genesseo 2011 had two accidents in which fortunately nobody was seriously injured. As we arrived at the field on Saturday morning about 8:40AM, emergency crews were rolling on a S-35 Bonanza. According to the Sheriffs Department, Leon Rousselle of Tonwanda, NY, had stalled about 20’ above the runway, impacted hard, collapsing the gear and bending a wing as well as other damage. Leon and his wife Karen were not seriously injured and treated on the scene. There were two other passengers, Tom and Susan Ciura who were taken to a local hospital, treated and released.
The second accident involved a green replica Fokker Triplane from the Great War Flying Museum of Toronto. About 12:15 PM Joseph Auger was involved in a mock dogfight when he lost power at about 600’ of altitude. He attempted to return to the field and was making an approach directly towards the crowd line. He tried to make a left turn onto the runway over a cornfield. The corn was high and he caught a left wingtip and that was all. The Fokker made a left rotation and went in. Mr. Auger was able to free himself from the remains of the aircraft before rescue crews got across the runway.
There is more to this story. As the Triplane approached the crowdline I started shooting pictures and got about 45 frames including the actual crash. When the airplane went in all that could be seen was a pair of wingtips on one side. We were standing next to the “Sherriff’s Mobile Command Center” yelling at them that a plane had crashed with no response from them. Fortunately there were 2 horse mounted Deputies who rode across the runway. One Deputy stayed on the runway; the other going to the wreckage to assist the pilot. A few minutes later the fire department got to the scene. Seems to me that big motorhome (that was probably bought with 9/11 anti terrorist funding) didn’t seem to help. Alert Deputies did, thanks, you are a lifesaver.
The same day around the world at Duxford, there was a midair between a SkyRaider and a P-51 resulting in the loss of the P-51. There was also a replica Fokker Triplane involved in a landing accident. Wonder when was the last time two Triplanes had accidents on the same day? Probably not for 90 years.
Photos and story by Mark Hrutkay, you can contact me at [email protected]