Fender Bender on Alton Bay - plane hits truck

[Island Girl]

An airplane starting takeoff on Alton Bay verred to the left and the left wheel got onto the soft snow.. The plane jerked left even more... with the wing going over a truck and the side of the plane hitting the truck, ripping through the fender and ripping the landing gear off and bending the supports on the wing.

Pictures later.....

IG

[Island Girl]

[This'nThat]

Surprised there weren't more accidents. Was watching the Alton Bay cam and it seemed the activity was intense and a bit disorganized. I thought I saw, at one point, a helicopter begin to take off at the same time a plane was landing. Scary. Also saw, several times, a plane come in and then by-pass its landing for some reason. Also was watching from my house down Alton Bay, where planes were taking off and staying low (20-50 feet above the lake), while other planes and helicoptors were going in the opposite direction, even lower (15-20 feet above the lake). Not exactly safe conditions.

[hockeypuck]

Good to hear no one was hurt. I'd love to hear how this is explained to the insurance companies.

[secondcurve]

Island Girl:

Thanks for some great photos. Why there was a truck parked near the run way I'll never know.

[Lakegeezer]

There was sloppy flying going on in more places than the runway in Alton. Up north of Moultonboro bay, at least 10 planes did low flybys today. Just like boats, the planes have rules to follow. From what I recall of the FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations), a plane can be as close to the ice as it wants to, but has to stay 500 feet (horizontally or vertically) from any people or property. We saw many cases of a plane passing less than 200 feet from people.

[IFish]

I fished in Alton Bay on Sat, and the place could have used a control tower! At one point I saw 3 planes taking off, one right after another, all on the ice at the same time, hahahaaa. But, worse than the planes was a small bright red helicopter. He was buzzing the ice worse than any of the planes. I'm no expert, but I know it had to be way under 100 feet, for miles at a time.

A first I thought it might be law enforcement chopper, but when I finally got a good up close view, there was no offical markings on it, just the tail numbers. He appeared to be racing some sleds at one point, which was kind of dangerous for the sled owners. This was out amost to Black Point, so they had plenty of room. Still, a wreck at 100mph would have hurt

Oh ya, the fishing where I was, happened to be very, very slow

[Just Sold]

Thanks IG for the photo's. You scouped WMUR too!

[Skip]

Originally Posted by IFish

I fished in Alton Bay on Sat, and the place could have used a control tower! At one point I saw 3 planes taking off, one right after another, all on the ice at the same time, hahahaaa. But, worse than the planes was a small bright red helicopter. He was buzzing the ice worse than any of the planes. I'm no expert, but I know it had to be way under 100 feet, for miles at a time.

A first I thought it might be law enforcement chopper, but when I finally got a good up close view, there was no offical markings on it, just the tail numbers. He appeared to be racing some sleds at one point, which was kind of dangerous for the sled owners. This was out amost to Black Point, so they had plenty of room. Still, a wreck at 100mph would have hurt

Oh ya, the fishing where I was, happened to be very, very slow

Look familiar?

[Lin]

Originally Posted by hockeypuck

Good to hear no one was hurt. I'd love to hear how this is explained to the insurance companies.

My husband and I were asking the same questions. That ought to be a fun file with the insurance companies. He heard it on his scanner and then got it over his pager about the accident. So I immediately went to the Winni site, figured someone would post something about it. Great photos IG, new you or someone would come through with the photos.

[upthesaukee]

According to an email I got from the message board at AANH (flying group), the truck belonged to the guy that owned the bob house that is situated extremely close to the runway, and he parked his truck there as protection for his bob house, in fact I think the term he used was for it to act as a "speed bump".

The unfortunate thing about the ice runway, is that it is just that: A runway, and people drive on it, cross it, park vehicles right next to it, without giving it a thought, and you know they would never do the same thing at Laconia, Manchester, or Logan!!!! If given a little space as a safety buffer zone, even if an airplane taking off was to veer off the runway, it would probably suffer little or no damage, and more than likely be able to fly away.

It should be an insurance nightmare...glad I'm not the claims adjuster.

More importantly, I'm glad no one was hurt.

[ladyslipper]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

According to an email I got from the message board at AANH (flying group), the truck belonged to the guy that owned the bob house that is situated extremely close to the runway, and he parked his truck there as protection for his bob house, in fact I think the term he used was for it to act as a "speed bump".

The unfortunate thing about the ice runway, is that it is just that: A runway, and people drive on it, cross it, park vehicles right next to it, without giving it a thought, and you know they would never do the same thing at Laconia, Manchester, or Logan!!!! If given a little space as a safety buffer zone, even if an airplane taking off was to veer off the runway, it would probably suffer little or no damage, and more than likely be able to fly away.

It should be an insurance nightmare...glad I'm not the claims adjuster.

More importantly, I'm glad no one was hurt.

As a pilot, snowmobiler and ex-ice fishing enthusiast, I have to agree with your statements.
I witnessed the accident yesterday.
Here are my observations....for what it's worth!
*the "ice runway" is an OFFICIAL FAA runway!!
* the bobhouses and vehicles were parked closer than a wingspan from the edge of the runway.
*the pilots appeared to be communicating with each other through the flight radio system, therefore the take-off and landing sequence was more organized that some might think.
*the back wheel of the plane was skidding, however, the plane was still on the "runway" at that time and the pilot had a chance to pull it out of the skid......however, his wing hit the truck!!
*I heard the owner of the truck say, "another airplane almost hit my truck yesterday"!!!
*right after this accident, I saw a snowmobile cross the "official FAA runway" while a plane was in the process of landing and was less than 50 feet from touchdown right where the snowmobile crossed!!!
* there were no less than 5 snowmobiles with Fish and Game officers on them who were within a "stones-throw" from me and had to have witnessed at least some of what I saw???!!!
IT'S A MIRACLE NO-ONE WAS HURT!!!

[hockeypuck]

Here's a thought. There are many snowmobiles, trucks, cars, etc that are driven by first timers on the lake or just don't know the rules for safe use, or lack common sense, how about some lines sprayed on the snow that would provide a safety zone around the runway. They do this for down hill ski races. Couldn't cost much and would set boundaries for all to see. I for one would not drive a truck out onto the lack no matter how thick the ice is.

[ITD]

72 square miles of lake and this guy has to put his bob house and truck within a "wings length" of a runway. Then he seems to be too thick or stubborn to move it. Ah, but he is well within his rights, just no common sense or courtesy.

I think Hockeypuck is right, a few hundred in signs would go a long way.

[Woodsy]

I am glad nobody was hurt....

No doubt once the lawyers and the anti personal responsibility people get wind of this there will be lawsuits galore, and probably signal the demise of the runway on Alton Bay! how sad...

Woodsy

[Joe Kerr]

I thought planes were required to keep a minimum distance from other planes during landing and take off. Anyone know for sure?

Glad no one was hurt this time. Signs and painting lines in the snow would help. If this is an official FAA runway I would expect them to fix the problem. Look what the FAA did in New Bedford MA. The FAA got involved with the airport landscaping. Landing lights were not required so the brush overgrew some of the lights. A plane crash at night and now they FAA demands the lights go on and the brush gets cut. How will the FAA respond to this crash on Winnie?

[RLW]

I was present at the Bay sevral times watching all the activity going on and the fun everyone was enjoying. I was not present for the plane incident and believe also it was lucky that no one was hurt. I would think it would be easy for the plow driver that does the runway to make a single pass around the runway that would be a safe distance for both the planes and the fun goers on the lake. They could put signs here and there on the bankings telling people not go past this area. This could be done for a year or 2 and the people should (should ) learn, plus if advertised in rules and bullentin boards etc.. Just my 2 cents worth of a way to stop tragedy before it happens.

[CanisLupusArctos]

What if a bunch of people chipped in, went down to Home Depot, and got enough stuff to jury-rig a lighting system for the runway that could be removed (or will float) when the ice weakens?

As for fences, I remember in the past seeing the runway and taxiways guarded with bright orange rollout fence like the ski areas use to mark trail edges. Maybe not the entirety, but enough to make it obvious that the non-guarded areas were off-limits too.

But wait a minute-- this is an official FAA-recognized airport. Where's the TSA? The chain-link and razor wire fence? And everyone who goes out on that ice should have to go through a metal detector. (kidding... of course!) Imagine: "Sorry sir, in the name of national security we're going to have to confiscate your ice auger..."

[Weirs guy]

Hopefully a truck getting hit by a plane will be as effective as some lights and paint.

[IFish]

Originally Posted by Skip

Look familiar?

Attachment 1194

Oh ya, that is without a doubt the small, red chopper! Anyone you know, or we're you just out taking photo's?

Saturday was kind of like a modern version of the old, wild west

[Doyboy]

I was fishing on Lake Wentworth Saturday and Sunday and we saw the "Red Chopper" buzzing around over there on both days. Did anyone get a better picture of him?

[Skip]

Originally Posted by IFish

Oh ya, that is without a doubt the small, red chopper! Anyone you know, or we're you just out taking photo's?

Saturday was kind of like a modern version of the old, wild west

Received the photo from a third party who was curious as to it's owner. That particular bird is owned by a development company out of Wayland MA.

[IFish]

Originally Posted by Skip

Received the photo from a third party who was curious as to it's owner. That particular bird is owned by a development company out of Wayland MA.

Thanks Skip, now that I know it wasn't you, I'll say that the pilot should have been shut down by the authorities. There was plenty of law enforement on the ice both days, I'm sure they had his tail numbers, but must have decided they had better things to do.

Boys and their toys!!!

[CanisLupusArctos]

Originally Posted by IFish

Thanks Skip, now that I know it wasn't you, I'll say that the pilot should have been shut down by the authorities. There was plenty of law enforement on the ice both days, I'm sure they had his tail numbers, but must have decided they had better things to do.

Local police often don't know aviation regulations unless they're part of an aviation unit. They're more in tune with the laws they enforce every day. To ask for enforcement of FAR's one would have to contact the FAA. If several people complained about the same tail number it would probably help.

[GWC...]

Originally Posted by Doyboy

I was fishing on Lake Wentworth Saturday and Sunday and we saw the "Red Chopper" buzzing around over there on both days. Did anyone get a better picture of him?

Steveo did...

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...Helicopter.jpg

from:

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...hp?photo=10780

click the large version to read the tail numbers...

[John A. Birdsall]

Tell me how fast does a plane have to go to take off?

Was the plane doing headway speed within 150'


Glad nobody was hurt, plane looks bad, truck looks bad, but they can be fixed.

[RumGuy]

Do you think that the percentage of .....un-informed (being PC here) people on the lake changes just because the ice is in? Unfortunately, I think that you could light up the runway, put up fences on either side, and put gaurd penguins out there- someone will still get too close.

[Cal]

Originally Posted by This'nThat

Was watching the Alton Bay cam and it seemed the activity was intense and a bit disorganized. .

What Alton Bay Cam

[mcdude]

ALTON BAY CAM

[Weirs guy]

Originally Posted by RumGuy

Do you think that the percentage of .....un-informed (being PC here) people on the lake changes just because the ice is in? Unfortunately, I think that you could light up the runway, put up fences on either side, and put gaurd penguins out there- someone will still get too close.

Actually, the penguins might distract them enough.....

[SIKSUKR]

Did anyone see the video of the plane crash on WMUR last night?I caught it at the last instant so it went by fast.Did not see a replay.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by RumGuy

Do you think that the percentage of .....un-informed (being PC here) people on the lake changes just because the ice is in? Unfortunately, I think that you could light up the runway, put up fences on either side, and put gaurd penguins out there- someone will still get too close.

Maybe we need these penguins ?

[Cal]

Originally Posted by mcdude

ALTON BAY CAM

Thanks mcd