At the time of the crash the grandstand was open to the end. they only closed those sections after the crash. At the time I was sitting at the top end as close to the finish line as possible with other Sportsman crews around. ( Hancock and Lane and Emmons crew guys were around.) We all heard a horrible sounding engine behind us and as we collectively turned to look, the plane hit the ground about 50 feet to our left. Frankly a little to close for comfort, because you can imagine what the carnage would have been 50 feet or more to the right. I don't know if people realize it but you can see Capps and Windhams RV's in most of the videos and photos, They were crazy close to getting hit, Luckily all's well that ends well and it sure makes a crazy memory and crazier story.
I was walking beside the fence. I heard the plane popping and missing saw the black smoke puffing out the exhaust. It passed about 20 ft over my head and fell out of the sky. By the time I ran back around the fence rescuers already had 2 people out of the plane and pulling out a third. There was fuel all over the ground. This could have been so much worse. Accolades to the first people on scene for their heroic actions.
And here I thought that kind of thing only happened at the old US30 Dragway in Thomasville, PA, but that's an actual Airport so it was bound to happen on occasion, only they normally just landed, taxied off and racing continued like nothing even happened.
At the time of the crash the grandstand was open to the end. they only closed those sections after the crash. At the time I was sitting at the top end as close to the finish line as possible with other Sportsman crews around. ( Hancock and Lane and Emmons crew guys were around.) We all heard a horrible sounding engine behind us and as we collectively turned to look, the plane hit the ground about 50 feet to our left. Frankly a little to close for comfort, because you can imagine what the carnage would have been 50 feet or more to the right. I don't know if people realize it but you can see Capps and Windhams RV's in most of the videos and photos, They were crazy close to getting hit, Luckily all's well that ends well and it sure makes a crazy memory and crazier story.
That's amazing! Everyone was so lucky!
I was walking beside the fence. I heard the plane popping and missing saw the black smoke puffing out the exhaust. It passed about 20 ft over my head and fell out of the sky. By the time I ran back around the fence rescuers already had 2 people out of the plane and pulling out a third. There was fuel all over the ground. This could have been so much worse. Accolades to the first people on scene for their heroic actions.
You are lucky!!! We are lucky...
Good stuff!
Thanks Joe!
And here I thought that kind of thing only happened at the old US30 Dragway in Thomasville, PA, but that's an actual Airport so it was bound to happen on occasion, only they normally just landed, taxied off and racing continued like nothing even happened.