Aircraft down in South Central Oklahoma

[agpilot34]

Just got off the phone with my sister in law... she called to see if I was flying today. She works at a local hospital, and said their EMS, Sheriff's dept. and OK Highway Patrol were running on a reported plane crash. She lives in Ada, OK, and the plane was supposed to have gone down about 2 miles South of a little community called Fittstown about an hour ago. No more details yet.

 

[agpilot34]

Plane reportedly crashed into an abandoned house. They're saying all on board were killed. Dont know what type aircraft or anything else at this time.

 

[hoop]

Just watched the news. It was a C-37. Owner was a resident of Stonewall, Oklahoma......

 

[agpilot34]

Got a bit more information, and it turns out I knew who the pilot was. Didnt know him well, but I had spoken with him a few times. The pilot's name was Robert Reinauer. He was 59 years old and a Senior Captain with American Airlines, I think on the 767, flying out of Dallas Fort Worth. His wife is a flight attendant also based out of Dallas and was on a trip when the accident happened. The plane he was flying was a 1937 or 38 Cessna C-37 Airmaster. Initial reports indicate that he was low, struck a wire, and cartwheeled into a vacant house. The authorities are saying he had just taken off from a grass strip on his property right before the accident happened. Dont know at this point why he was at low altitude, whether he was just buzzing around, or if he was having a mechanical problem of some kind. Please keep his family in your prayers.

 

[User546]

http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=100073

Plane Crash Kills One Near Ada

FITTSTOWN, Okla. (AP) -- A single-engine airplane crashed into an abandoned house Monday afternoon, killing the pilot and touching off a small fire, authorities said.

The pilot was alone in the Cessna airplane, and there were no reports of any injuries on the ground.

The crash was reported to the Federal Aviation Administration at 1:11 PM, said FAA spokesman Roland Herwig.

The tail number of the aircraft is listed in an FAA database as the identifying number for a C-37 Cessna, manufactured in 1937, and owned by Robert M. Reinauer of Stonewall. Fittstown and Stonewall are two small towns located near Ada in southeastern Oklahoma.

His father-in-law, J.B. Barrow of Fort Worth, Texas, said Reinauer, a senior pilot for American Airlines, was killed in the crash. He said Reinauer was on his way to meet his wife, an American Airlines flight attendant, in Fort Worth.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol did not immediately release identification for the pilot.

Barrow said family members told him that smoke could be seen coming from the airplane after it took off.

Barrow said Reinauer was planning to retire from the airline this year. His flight experience included time as a U.S. Naval aviator, Barrow said.

The accident occurred in a rural area about two miles south and about a half-mile east of Fittstown, said Oklahoma Highway patrol Trooper Kera Philippi.

The flight originated in Stonewall.

 

[User546]

Also, it appears that the accident airplane was for sale. Click below for the information, and photos. Sure was a beautiful airplane.

http://www.controller.com/listings/forsale/detail.asp?OHID=1099848

 

[agpilot34]

Yes, it was a beautiful aircraft. I'm not a big fan of the Warner radial engine though. If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Reinauer owned several antique aircraft. The for sale ad on the Controller website listed engine times on this aircraft as a tad over 500 SMOH, and 190 since STOH. Dont know that much about time between overhauls on the Warner, but having to do a top overhaul at around 300 hours seems a bit out of sorts to me.

 

[taters]

God rest his soul, and condolences to the family.

 

[FN FAL]

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol...

What's up with that "highway" patrol thing anyway? Do they only have one highway to patrol or do they highways in Oklahoma? And what happens if you're speeding on a thoroughfare? Do they have a thoroughfare patrol that will give you ticket? And what's up with tickets anyway? You need a ticket to get on an airliner or a steamship, but they don't give you a ticket, you have to buy one...

.....

 

[cfdoubleeye]

Thanks guys, that is my uncle. NTSB determined that the warner engine had a microscopic crack where the spark plug enters the cylinder. It developed plasma arcing and cost the aircraft a large percentage of power, as well as a likely in flight fire.

I flew in that aircraft, and know he (as a check airman) was more professional than to be "buzzing around", or taking chances on maintenance. Just one of those unfortunate things inherent in flying small and aging equipment. We can only speculate, but the engine failure likely occurred at less than 400' immediately after takeoff - had it happened in the warm-up, the run-up, or just 5 minutes later in the flight the outcome would have been a lot different.

He owned a C210, a Fairchild (being rebuilt), and two Waco biplanes. Of those we hope to get the Waco's back in the air in the near future. The Reinauer family is a flying family - with three of us still flying 121 op's.

Thanks for your wishes, and keep his wife, and my aunt in your thoughts!

Blue Skys

Al Reinauer