Ok kind of a long sad story but here it goes...My grandfather owned a sawmill here in Oregon back in 1966. He was flying his family..my grandmother, 3 aunts and a cousin and a friend of one of my aunts she was pregnant . 7 people on board. He was enroute to his cattle ranch in Eastern Oregon when he encountered a severe lightning storm. The aircraft was an Beechcraft Queenair twin engine pressurized fully equipped ect. He even had JATO rockets one each under each wing to assist for an emergency short take off. I'm an A&P mechanic and didn't belive that until I looked at the records and yes it had them. Anyways lightning hit the plane and they crashed and all perished. My father was 17 at the time and was suppose to be on the flight but skipped out last minute. The FAA ruled that lightning "ignited the JATO's setting them off and burning into the fuselage..my question..Is that even possible? I mean isn't an aircraft safe in lightning?? thanks just curious.
2007-09-12 16:38:58 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
I didn't believe the Jatos myself....I'm still somewhat skeptical of that part. But one part I can promise is that plane went down in the Ochoco's west of Prineville Or. It crashed into rocks and some of the locals helped retrieve the bodys. Trust me I lack many relatives on my fathers side.
2007-09-12 18:58:03 · update #1
Do you have the FAA report? I have been checking the FAA website for information on it however I can not locate it. There are events where lighting will strike an aircraft, as it has been reported in a number of FAA reports. All it takes is for a Negitive charge in the cloud and a Positive charged aircraft to come in contact with one another. I have provided a link to a site that gives all kinds of information on Aircraft incidents. Hope you find it as useful as I do. I'll keep looking for information on what you have been talking about.
2007-09-12 16:50:18 · answer #1 · answered by gearnofear 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lightning strikes do happen, occasionally, but usually not with such dramatic results.
JATO bottles are designed to be jettisoned after use, but if the aircraft records show an installation, I have to go with that. Improbable, but not impossible. You can get the FAA to sign off on almost any 337 you toss them if you have adequate justification and it's not to be used commercially.
Sad story to be sure.
In another lightning story; there was a Coast Guard helicopter off the coast of Oregon several years ago struck by lightning, and subsequently crashed. No one believed the reports, until they started comparing the flight track to the lightning trackers. There did happen to be one lightning strike at the right time in the right place for it to have happened. The airframe was never recovered.
2007-09-13 06:33:41 · answer #2 · answered by lowflyer1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jato bottles on a Queenair? That sounds like an urban legend. Where did he get them? Aircraft are designed to dissipate lightning with minimal damage to the plane. If in fact he did have the devices mounted he probably did not make sure they were properly installed. I also wonder why he would have them installed if he did not intend to use them. They would increase drag on the airframe. Jato bottles are designed to fire and then drop off. This story sounds fishy.
2007-09-12 17:02:42 · answer #3 · answered by Otto 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You may be able to find the NTSB report online. Many of them are there, if not you can order the report from them. If you had the Tail Number it would be easier but Date, Place should be able to locate the Accident report.
http://ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp
I did a quick search for Beech for Oregon between 12/1/1965 to 12/31/1966 did not turn up any fatal accidents in Oregon for Queen Airs there was a couple of 35s but no 65/70/80 models were listed.
Sorry for the loss. Good luck in your search.
2007-09-13 16:13:54 · answer #4 · answered by Tracy L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry all that happened. The story sounds fishy to me. There is no record of a JATO system or equivalent ever having been made for a cabin-class twin like a Queen Air.
I am sorry to say it sounds more like a family legend. The more likely explanation is that he continued flight into instrument conditions or for any of a hundred reasons just flew into the terrain.
As mentioned, contact the nearest Flight Standards Safety Office (FSDO) and see if they don't have copies of the report or if they can't retrieve it. As a family member, you have a legitimate reason for wanting the report.
2007-09-12 17:57:37 · answer #5 · answered by aviophage 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Lightning strikes on aircraft happen often enough that new airliners and military aircraft have to be tested in lightning labs. There are lightning protection features on all commercial and military aircraft that I know of. Here's a quote from NASA: "According to the FAA, commercial aircraft are struck an average of once every 3,000 flight hours, or about once a year."
2007-09-16 10:46:36 · answer #6 · answered by stever_sl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's true he had the JATO's this is definitely possible. Depending on the type of Jet Assisted Take Off pods, they are likely to be filled with pure fuel. If they come in to contact with extreme heat or spark they will ignite. Sad story but a guy with Jato's on a Queen Air is my hero.
2007-09-12 18:51:14 · answer #7 · answered by Goobrain 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is definitely possible but not probable.
The FAA should have reports on the crash. You might have
to contact them directly to get a copy of the report. It would be
worth the time an effort to get the reports to see what they
say.
2007-09-13 06:07:35 · answer #8 · answered by sandy_dfw 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The NTSB accident website goes back to 1962 so you could be able to locate this accident.
-Robert, FAA Certified Flight Instructor
2007-09-12 17:16:24 · answer #9 · answered by Robert G 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is ridiculous! JATO on a cessna HA!
2007-09-12 16:53:00 · answer #10 · answered by fragrep 1 · 1⤊ 4⤋