04/14/2021
It is with a very heavy heart that I report that the National Transportation Safety Board has finally released their findings into the October 2nd, 2019 B-17 "Nine O Nine" crash at Bradley International Airport - BDL. They concluded that the crash was caused by:
"The pilot’s failure to properly manage the airplane’s configuration and airspeed after he shut down the No. 4 engine following its partial loss of power during the initial climb. Contributing
to the accident was the pilot/maintenance director’s inadequate maintenance while the airplane was on tour, which resulted in the partial loss of power to the Nos. 3 and 4 engines; the Collings Foundation’s ineffective safety management system (SMS), which failed to identify and mitigate safety risks; and the Federal Aviation Administration’s inadequate oversight of the Collings Foundation’s SMS."
The pilot and co-pilot were extremely experienced, having over 36,000 hours of combined flight time. The pilot - one of the most conscientious and kind people I've had the pleasure of knowing in the warbird community - had over 7,200 hours flying the B-17 (making him, arguably, the most experienced B-17 pilot of all time). The co-pilot was a career naval and commercial aviator and flew some of the most advanced and sophisticated aircraft ever to take to the sky.
The volunteers and airport staff that welcomed the Collings Foundation to Hazleton over the decades will miss you both, Mac and Mike. Our condolences go out to their families as well as those of the other crash victims.
Image: The Nine O Nine, at sunset, parked at Hazleton Municipal Airport on the evening of Tuesday, August 20th 2019 - the last time it was in Hazleton and just about a month and a half before the accident.
The full accident report, "Impact with Terrain Short of the Runway, Boeing B-17G, Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, Oct. 2, 2019", is available online at https://go.usa.gov/xHbMw.
cc: Hazleton News 1
