Bugatti 100P Replica Crashes in Oklahoma, Pilot Killed

"Jcarr" (jcarr)
08/06/2016 at 17:45 • Filed to: Planelopnik

Sad news out of Oklahoma today as Scotty Wilson, the former Air Force pilot who had been working on a replica of the famed Bugatti aircraft, was killed in a crash involving the replica.

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EDIT: additional link describing the crash below.

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DISCUSSION (28)

Dusty Ventures > Jcarr
08/06/2016 at 17:56

Terrible news, his family and friends are in my thoughts.

That said, I’ll be very interested in the investigation into the accident. Curious whether it was caused or influenced by a flaw in the original design, a failure in a component on the replica, or a mistake that could have happened in virtually any small aircraft.

ETA: Also interested inwhat phase the craft was in (takeoff, flight, approach, landing) and what was its altitude?

Jcarr > Dusty Ventures
08/06/2016 at 18:00

They had a previous issue with this replica about a year ago I think. Wonder if there were some design challenges that contributed.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Jcarr
08/06/2016 at 18:24

Damn that sucks. I was very interested in this aircraft, and was hoping for it to be airworthy soon.

Rip to the pilot, and I will be following this investigation closely. I know they’ve had brake failures in the past so I wonder what phase of flight the aircraft was in?

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Dusty Ventures
08/06/2016 at 18:30

Oh man, I watched that plane being built for forever. Curious what happened too...

Jcarr > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
08/06/2016 at 18:33

Yeah, I'll be interested in the NTSB findings.

ttyymmnn > Jcarr
08/06/2016 at 18:39

I always thought that airplane looked like a triumph of form over function. It certainly is beautiful, but it doesn’t look terribly stable or easily flyable.

Jcarr > ttyymmnn
08/06/2016 at 18:43

I don’t think Ettore ever flew the original so we may just be seeing the effects of a very delayed development process. I wonder if this will be the end of flight aspirations for the type.

f86sabre > Jcarr
08/06/2016 at 18:46

That is unfortunate.

ttyymmnn > Jcarr
08/06/2016 at 18:47

I imagine it will be the end. It’s entirely possible that the plane never could have flown.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Jcarr
08/06/2016 at 18:58

Incredibly sad news....beautiful plane, and it’s a shame the pilot and it were lost. RIP and condolences to his family and friends.

That being said, he died literally living his dream, so there’s something to be said for that...

Jcarr > ttyymmnn
08/06/2016 at 19:15

Imagine how automotive history would have changed had Ettore been the one to do test flights.

Mackaroon77 > Jcarr
08/06/2016 at 19:15

He was in climb and the plane banked to the left diving head on into the ground. The video is rough. http://kfor.com/2016/08/06/his…

Jcarr > Mackaroon77
08/06/2016 at 19:19

Man, that’s awful.

Mackaroon77 > Jcarr
08/06/2016 at 19:23

The plane was in a climb. It randomly banked and the head first crashed into the ground. Catching Fire. A chase helicopter attempted rescue of the pilot who seems to have died at impact. The plane was engulfed in flames and burnt down. http://kfor.com/2016/08/06/his…

Frenchlicker > Dusty Ventures
08/06/2016 at 20:47

The edit to the post adds an article with a bit more info.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Jcarr
08/06/2016 at 21:27

Damn. I wanted that to work so bad.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Jcarr
08/06/2016 at 22:14

So sorry to the pilot’s family. That has to be hard to lose someone who from every measures seems like he is doing exactly what he should he doing in life.

That said, Burt Ratan used to say ‘if it looks like it should fly, it probably will.’ in that respect, this plane should not fly. It looks like a fantasy. Not a machine

phenotyp > Jcarr
08/07/2016 at 00:27

Shit. Terrible for all involved.

KatzManDu > Jcarr
08/07/2016 at 04:13

So sad and such a disappointment. I feel for the family, etc. :(

Chris Clarke > Jcarr
08/07/2016 at 13:32

Pretty gutted about this. This airplane really had me enthused and I was very hopeful to see it in person. Sucks sucks.

Jcarr > Chris Clarke
08/07/2016 at 13:54

I thought of you when I heard. I remembered your enthusiasm for it. Terrible stuff.

Dusty Ventures > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/07/2016 at 13:59

Have you seen Rutan’s planes? They look every bit the fantasy.

Kinja'd!!!

For Sweden > Dusty Ventures
08/08/2016 at 09:39

It shouldn’t be a very complex investigation. This was essentially a new kit plane design, and new kit plane designs crash quite often.

Dusty Ventures > For Sweden
08/08/2016 at 10:04

Yeah, but I’d really like to know if it was a problem with the design or a problem with the construction. In other words, is this in fact a design that can’t fly reliably, or is the design ok and there was something wrong with a component on this particular craft.

For Sweden > Dusty Ventures
08/08/2016 at 10:05

Both probably

Ash78, voting early and often > Dusty Ventures
08/09/2016 at 16:49

And the various iteration of the Long-EZ (first pic) are flying in the tens of thousands, most of them built in people's garages. Simultaneously awesome and terrifying at the same time.

Dusty Ventures > Ash78, voting early and often
08/09/2016 at 17:46

If I had the money to build/buy a plane I'd get a LongEZ. If I had the money for a fancy plane I'd get a Velocity (same shape as an EZ, but able to seat four in comfort)

Dusty Ventures > Ash78, voting early and often
08/09/2016 at 17:52

Almost forgot, I met a guy at Oshkosh with a VariEZ (like a LongEZ but with less range). When our schedules align he's giving me a ride.