SIAI Marchetti take-off crash (Idaho, July 2021)

[kgwilson]

The baggage handlers loading that aircraft in the foreground just looked at it crash & then calmly went on with their work. The person who ran out didn't have a fire extinguisher but there probably wasn't one where he was but at least he tried to assist.

 

About 6 or 7 years ago one bloke at our aerodrome was bedding in the new brake pads on his RV7 but obviously had not read the instructions & had far too much pressure on. The left wheel burst in to flames coming down the taxi way. I was having a cup of tea on the veranda & the other bloke there yelled "He's on fire". I didn't even think & ran straight into the club house, grabbed a 9kg dry powder extinguisher off the wall & ran out to the taxiway about 50-60 metres away.

As  I got there the pilot shut down & the flames that were being blown straight back then went straight up onto the bottom of the fuel tank. A good burst of powder doused it but it restarted & I emptied the entire 9kgs onto the fire but not before the tyre exploded.

 

I could have just sat there & watched the pilot get barbecued I suppose.