Updated

Updated · Fox News · Sep 10

WWII-Era Plane Crashes at Pennsylvania Airport, Trapping 1 Pilot in Overturned Aircraft

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Sep 10

WWII-Era Plane Crashes at Pennsylvania Airport, Trapping 1 Pilot in Overturned Aircraft

Q: What caused a privately owned 1944 WWII-era plane to suddenly crash and flip after just nine minutes in the air?

The cause of the crash has not been determined. Authorities have said only that the privately owned 1944 Harvard III/T-6 went down while attempting to land at Heritage Field Airport after about nine minutes in the air, then flipped upside down near the runway. What is established is the sequence of events: the single-engine WWII-era trainer took off from the Pottstown area and was headed toward Quakertown, but came down around 7:15 to 7:18 p.m. during the landing attempt at Heritage Field in Limerick Township. Video and eyewitness reporting indicate it struck either the runway area or adjacent grass and overturned. No official findings have been released pointing to mechanical failure, pilot error, weather, or a runway issue. Local police notified the FAA, and the NTSB was also contacted; investigators are expected to examine the wreckage, flight history, maintenance records, airport conditions and any witness video before identifying a probable cause. The pilot, who was alone on board, survived and was conscious after airport staff and police freed him from the overturned aircraft. A fuel leak followed the crash, and the airport was temporarily closed while crews secured the scene and removed the plane. So, at this stage, any explanation for why the aircraft “suddenly” crashed would be speculative. The official cause remains under investigation.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 10

Limerick Township police and an airport employee freed the lone pilot after a World War II-era single-engine plane flipped over while trying to land at Heritage Field Airport around 7:17 p.m. Wednesday.
The pilot was conscious, able to stand and had visible cuts; medics treated him at the scene before taking him to Reading Trauma Center, where FOX29 said he was alert and talking.
The aircraft had taken off from Pottstown and was headed to Quakertown, staying airborne for about nine minutes before the crash.
A fuel leak forced Heritage Field to close Wednesday night as firefighters monitored for fire risk and crews worked to remove the plane.
The FAA was notified and aviation authorities are investigating the cause, which was not immediately known.