Plane crash. P47 in the Hudson

[Bob Wegman]

I just witnessed a WW2 plane crash into the Hudson River in NYC. I Think it was maybe a T 6

[twowings]

Oh, no...not a warbird...too much of that lately....

[n3303j]

A small plane crashed into New York’s Hudson River, with multiple witnesses saying that it was submerged under the water. New York emergency crews are at the scene. Coast Guard and NYPD harbor units are searching the river, according to WNBC.
Two divers went underwater and returned back up, as search and rescue operations began.

Diners at Waterside Restaurant in North Bergen, New Jersey, told NBC 4 New York they saw a small World War II-type plane appear to start landing, then go into the water nose first.

This news is about 18 minutes old. Most water landings with fixed gear nose in and flip over when the wheels contact the water. This often knocks out the occupants. Can only hope there is good news that hasn't hit the net yet.

[Testarossa]

P-47. AP reports pilot survived.


"The FAA received a report that a World War  II vintage P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft may have gone down in the Hudson River, two miles south of the George Washington Bridge," a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesperson said in a statement. "The FAA notified the NYPD Aviation Unit and the Port Authority of NY and NJ. Search and rescue was headed to the scene. We will update the statement when we get new information."

Memorial Day airshows coming up.

Latest: P47 was from American Airpower Museum on Long island.

A World War II-era plane from a Long Island museum crashed into the Hudson River on Friday night after its engine failed, a museum spokesman said.

NYPD divers were searching for the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter and its pilot.

The plane had been kept at the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, said museum spokesman Gary Lewi.

“Apparently the aircraft suffered an inflight engine failure and the pilot put it into the Hudson,” Lewi said. “I’m told the aircraft is at the bottom of the Hudson.”

Lewi declined to give the pilot’s name.

A NYPD spokesman said calls came in just before 7:30 p.m. of a plane crashing into the Hudson closer to the New Jersey shore. Police boats could be seen off 79th Street on the west side of Manhattan.

A spokeswoman from the Federal Aviation Administration said the agency got a report that a P-47 may have gone down in the river, about 2 miles south of the George Washington Bridge.

The FAA notified the NYPD Aviation Unit and the Port Authority.

Other details were not immediately available.

The P-47 was used extensively during World War II. The Thunderbolt was armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns — four per wing — and could carry a bomb load of 2,500 pounds. It was built from 1941-45.

[cj750]

Would be this plane then:



I'm glad no one was hurt, but man, what a shame.

[n3303j]

Would be this plane then:



I'm glad no one was hurt, but man, what a shame.

Where are you seeing a no injury report?

[oldbike54]

 There was an early report the pilot was found , seems it was inaccurate .

  Dusty

[cj750]

There was an early report the pilot was found , seems it was inaccurate .

  Dusty

Yes, AP reported that the pilot survived. Which doesn't preclude injury, I suppose. At any rate, I hope that the report wasn't premature.

[Bob Wegman]

NYC news reporting minor injuries to the pilot

[Testarossa]

I like it that a 13,000 lb, 2000 hp warbird is a "small plane."

[Moto]

Latest New York Times report:

Pilot's Body Recovered After Plane Crash in Hudson River, Officials Say

"...Divers from the New York Police Department recovered the body of the pilot around 10:40. The authorities said he was 56 but did not release further information about his identity."

It's the same plane pictured above.

[Testarossa]

Tragic.

[cj750]

Sad news indeed.

[rodekyll]

I get the sense from witness reports that the pilot chose his spot.  He could have put it down in the city.

[not-fishing]

The pilot rode her down and he would want them to raise the plane.

[oldbike54]

I like it that a 13,000 lb, 2000 hp warbird is a "small plane."

 "a small vintage" one at that 

 There were conflicting "eye" witness reports , one reason the term is misleading . Sad day for the vintage aircraft world . Hey Kirbster , did you know the pilot ?

 Dusty

[Gliderjohn]

I am afraid a day will come that they will be considered to rare and risky to fly and will just become museum pieces. Makes me even more thankful for the B-17 ride. Also hope they can raise and restore that beautiful airplane.
GliderJohn

[Aaron D.]

This is sad, and poignant on the weekend. These are still dangerous things to fly.

As for restoring, I have seen the restoration of some things that are so far gone the end product was a new manufacture.

[blackcat]

"The Army Corps of Engineers was sending a drift-collection vessel, the Hayward, which has a heavy-duty crane, to work with Police Department divers to retrieve the wreckage, said Ken Wells, a corps spokesman for the New York district.

The recovery effort was expected to take place during slack tide, between 11 p.m. on Friday and 1 a.m. on Saturday. He was unsure where the wreckage would be taken."

[cruzziguzzi]

My uncle was in P-47s. He always said you didn't want to ditch in them due to the intake/oil cooler drop snout flipping the bird when it hit like a scoop. Good on the pilot for trying though RIP.


Todd.

[yogidozer]

This is no reflection on the pilot that lost his life, or the condition of the plane (reportedly an engine failure)
But it does show how brave and talented the pilots who flew these planes in WWll.

[John A]

The plane will be rebuilt, the pilot Rest in Peace

[Bob Wegman]

The plane was just recovered from the Hudson River

[not-fishing]

This is no reflection on the pilot that lost his life, or the condition of the plane (reportedly an engine failure)
But it does show how brave and talented the pilots who flew these planes in WWll.

And they were 90 day wonders......

[Moto]

The plane was just recovered from the Hudson River

Here's a photo of it being lifted out of the water. Looks completely intact, though no doubt there's damage.

http://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/william-gordon-pilot-of-wwii-plane-that-crashed-in-hudson-to-be-honored-1.11850926

[Arizona Wayne]

P-47s were our 2nd fastest fighter planes in WW II and were used for protecting the B-17 squadrons w/extra fuel tanks underbelly during bombing runs and strafing trains, tanks, etc. on the ground.  I believe they had the same motor as the latter B-29 bombers.

[Zazu]

American Airpower Museum
Like This Page � 12 hrs  �

 
To our FB Friends,
The Large and extended family of the American Airpower Museum suffered a tragedy on Friday. An extraordinary pilot who understood the powerful message our aircraft represent in telling the story of American Courage and Valor died after bringing our P-47 Thunderbolt to a forced emergency landing in the Hudson River. Bill Gordon was a nationally respected Pilot in our Warbird Community and we are honored to call him one of our own. The FAA and appropriate agencies will determine the reason for the inflight emergency and accident therefore please understand that as a result we will limit our public statement at this time. For the Past 16 years the Thunderbolt has been a potent symbol of our museum, a keystone to our public presentations here and throughout the north east. It is our commitment to Bill, our fraternity of pilots, docents, and ground personnel that our mission will continue, our focus undiminished in presenting these historic aircraft to the new generation so that they better understand our nation's fight to preserve and protect our freedoms. The Museum will stay open this Memorial Day Weekend, we will stand down from Jones Beach airshow operations today and will perform a salute and missing man tribute to our dear friend and pilot Bill Gordon today with the help of our fellow Jones Beach airshow performers. In doing so we keep alive the spirit of what we all hold dear. Our concern right now is making sure the family of our fallen friend, pilot, and colleague is cared for, and our extended Airpower Museum Family. We dedicate the remainder of the weekend's flying in Bill's honor.
Thank you for your support, and sympathies. � with William Gordon.

[kfz]

Really sad.  Very little damage to the aircraft , flaps down and little prop damage looks like the engine wasnt running.  Unlucky.  You fly these old old girls, it happens, they were not built to safe little runabouts, designed to kill. Much better to fly them then to see them parked in a dusty hanger slowly rusting.

To misquote the great Carl Sagan.

"It cares not for the petty recriminations of men, it just wants to fly!"

Condolences to the pilots family from the UK. RIP.

[not-fishing]

Flaps look to be 1/2 or so.  One propeller blade looks bent.  Stall speed of a P47 with half flaps, shutters open is around 110 mph.

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/p-47/p47-26167.html

He flared hard close to the water to minimize damage to the airplane.

People forget @ 80 mph or so you don't always survive the violent blow when the water finally grabs hold.  Also you have to be conscious and relatively uninjured to get out before you run out of air.

[Testarossa]

Thunderbolts were tough airplanes.