Crash at Legacy Air Show preview event in Rexburg (VIdeo by Rick Robinson)

Rick Robinson from Sugar City shot this video of aerobatic pilot Buck Roetman moments before he crashed his Christian Eagle biplane into the golf course next to the airport.

• Category

  News & Politics

[Sheena Roetman]

just to let everyone know.. this is my dad. he's okay, but he's a little pissed off :)

[stearmandriver]

I've known Buck for a few years and just spent time with him at the Lakeland and Tuscaloosa shows a few months ago. He's a terrific guy and an incredible pilot. Not sure of the cause yet but even if he make a mistake, we're all human. He's a first class guy! We had good conversation on the radio on the cross country flight from Sun N Fun to Tuscaloosa! Tell your dad Brian says hello and to get well soon!

[Brad DeBow]

See my posts above.

[Brad DeBow]

See my posts above

[Brad DeBow]

jhfirewood - I wouldn't say "loss of situational awareness." Looking at the time he had to recover and find a safe place to put down after the brown smoke started coming out, I would say it was superb situational awareness.

[Brad DeBow]

I was holding the ribbon across the runway Buck was going to cut with the tail if the Talon Eagle hadn't failed. Had a pretty good view and was with the first responders at the scene.

[Brad DeBow]

That brown smoke coming out just before the impact is the hydraulic oil that leaked out of the prop hitting the hot engine. This loss of hydraulics caused the prop to feather and lose all thrust. Notice how much time Buck had to level out and find a safe place to put it down. Only a completely aware and experienced pilot could have accomplished that.

[Brad DeBow]

Joe Smith needs to get the facts before shooting his mouth off. Clearly??? Even though the engine was running normally throughout, there was a complete loss of thrust during the last roll as the variable pitch prop lost hydraulic pressure and feathered itself. Clearly Buck had complete awareness and very expertly leveled the plane while finding a smooth spot without people in it to put it down, as you can see in a very short amount of time at that altitude.

I was right under him at the runway.

[porsche1971]

it seems to me, from seeing this, that the airplane began to lose power from the rolls, or for whatever reason, and then, he began to lose altitude, once you lose power (thrust), it is difficult to make airplane respond as quickly to controls. ouch!!!

[TheRedstreaker]

man 0: gravity 1

[g6rcteam]

cause of engine loss -ground

[Joe Smith]

After watching and listening to the video it's not hard to figure out that the only thing that stopped the engine was the ground... Clearly a case of loss of awareness, as far as being pissed I hope it would be at himself. Probably should be thanking god for still being alive?