KOKOMO, IN – An airplane crash in November resulting in injuries to one person has been attributed to pilot error during landing, according to an investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The incident occurred at Glenndale Airport, southwest of Kokomo, when the pilot of the homebuilt B-29 replica airplane, Raymond Tom Hodgson, 76, failed to maintain control of the aircraft during landing.
The NTSB report, finalized in March, identified the probable cause of the crash as the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll. Hodgson explained to investigators that the plane’s nose landing gear encountered a depression on the grass runway, leading the airplane to veer to the left and ultimately depart from the runway. Unfortunately, the aircraft ended up striking a woman in a golf cart who was recording the landing process.
The woman sustained minor injuries and was knocked unconscious as a result of the impact, while Hodgson emerged from the incident unharmed. However, the airplane suffered substantial damage to both wings in the crash. It was determined that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions reported prior to the accident.
Hodgson, a pilot with 20,000 total flight hours, had only accumulated one hour of flight time in the replica B-29 at the time of the crash. The aircraft, as documented in a video uploaded on YouTube by the channel “rv6eguy,” had its maiden flight on November 5, 2023. Hodgson had dedicated several years to meticulously constructing almost every component of the 35% scale replica B-29, which features Honda engines.
The incident serves as a cautionary reminder of the importance of maintaining control of an aircraft during critical phases of flight, such as takeoff and landing. The NTSB’s findings underscore the need for pilots to exercise vigilance and attentiveness to ensure the safety of themselves and others when operating aircraft. Moving forward, it is crucial for pilots to prioritize safety and adherence to established protocols to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
