The pilot of a Lancair IV-P was injured when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Connecticut’s Hartford-Brainard Airport (HFD) on Saturday. The pilot, who was reportedly ejected from the aircraft, was the only person onboard. According to officials, he was taken to a local hospital with burns and a possible fracture but was responsive.
The aircraft crashed at approximately 3:45 p.m. local time and a fire occurred. The airport was closed following the crash and reopened around 7:25 p.m. It has been reported that the aircraft went down on the airport’s NE/SW turf runway, which is closed annually from November through April. Possible causes of the accident are not yet known. The NTSB is investigating.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Hmmm… RWY closed from November to April… and they can’t figure out how a plane crashed on a turf RWY closed during the winter months…
We have some bright ones scratching their heads when they see airplanes.
The airplane most likely took off from the adjacent paved runway and drifted over to the turf runway. I flew Lancairs for over a decade and can guarantee it wouldn’t have taken off from a 2300’ turf runway whether it was closed or not.
Local lore suggests this accident was a go-around gone awry.
If it’s the one I’m thinking of it was a nicely built plane. We’ll have to wait for the NTSB report. However, as the saying goes – “it may be too early to know, but it’s never too early to speculate!”