Demise of N407AC

[Wayne G. O'Shea]

Hello everyone!

I knew something was up when Charles Dixon asked to "Unsubscribe" from the
list. With a little "digging" I'm able to supply the following:

It is with deep sadness that I tell you about the end to Charles Dixon's
Murphy Rebel. I have attached, below, his e-mail (that took him over 2
months to get comfortable enough to send) to me, so you can get the same
lump in your throat and tear in your eye as I did. It was hard on the
stomach, but I have re-sized and have posted 7 pictures of the crash site to
the Builders website (Rebel -Misc or just hit "new" listings). Amazing that
anyone walked away from this, considering that the engine is sitting pretty
much against the seats and the instrument panel was shoved back about 2
feet, you would figure that their legs would have been crushed, backs
broken. He does have a 12" aluminum spinner for sale though, as somehow it
doesn't have a dent in it!

This is the Rebel that Charles flew up to our facilities (from Mississippi)
a year ago Easter to have a month of work done to it, so he was ready to
boldly go were no aircraft had gone before above the Arctic Circle in
Alaska. Garloc wheel adapter rings, 10" x 29 " ATV tires, etc, etc.
Unfortunately it won't be coming back!

With a little coaxing Charles gave me the okay to pass these pictures on,
for others to learn from. There are lessons to learn here without any
attempt to hurt any feelings, etc, of anyone involved.

#1 - Don't let anyone fly your aircraft!!
#2 - Carry in-flight insurance if you are going to, with named pilots,
especially if going into strips like this one in an Alaskan National Park
that is 80 miles from the nearest road.
#3 - Always wear your shoulder harness. It saved these guys lives, even
though the attach points ripped out of the floor/door sill!
#4 - I'm sure there are lots more you can think of, like don't fly off 800
foot strips, with a tail wind and 80 foot trees, but that is reality if you
want to push the limits in Alaska

Take care and fly safe,
Wayne G. O'Shea
www.irishfield.on.ca

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wayne,I sure don't want to write this but here goes.
The Rebel flew into the trees while taking off our Alaska bush strip above
the Arctic Circle.The strip is 800 feet long at an elevation of 450 MSL.It
is up on a hillside next to a small mtn range.I had flown the Rebel in and
out 5 times and the other Pilot had done the same.We were going to fly down
to the river to go fishing.I got in the 15AC Aeronica Sedan and Casey and
Donnie got in the Rebel along w/ there fishing poles.The wind had been
changing around,but only a couple of knots.Casey tookoff first.Unbeknown to
him the wind was switching as he was half way down the strip.How do I know
,because someone was filming it and you could see the small piece of
flagging began to show a tailwind.Well as soon as Casey got airborne about
20' the guy quite filming.The plane never got above 60'.The plane just flew
into the trees.We took off running to the crash site and all notice at least
10-12kts wind blowing at tree tops.The are both alive because the had there
shoulder harness on.NO ONE SHOULD EVER FLY W/O A SHOULDER HARNESS,ESPECIALLY
IN THE BUSH.One had a broken wrist,springed ankle and needed 8 stitches in
the face.The other pilot was just bruised real bad but did not go to the
doctor.The air plane hit a tree with the right wing first.Knocked the tree
up by the roots.The left wing then hit a tree and flattened the whole
leading edge.The plane then yawed to the left ,tail hit trees,the plane fell
from about 40' and hit right under nose(the impact did not dent the nose
cone).The plane broke right behind the seats and every thing from the panel
forward was sandwiched upward into the pilots face.Neither one of the wing
bolts broke during impact.Both seat belt attach points were ripped out.The
strip is in a U.S National Monument.The plane was 78 N.M from the nearest
village and the U.S.Park Service said the parts had to be removed from
Monument.There was no insurance on the plane.I dismantled all the
salvageable parts and the remaining parts were hauled in small chopped up
pieces.I will send you photos when I get a few minutes on the phone line.I
have both lift struts,one inside flapron,rudder and a couple boxes of
smaller parts.I got them to Kotzebue along w/ the motor and shipped to
Anchorage on the cargo plane.When I go back I will take photos of all parts
that you might could use.Bette and flew it up to Alaska in May and had a
wonderful trip.I lost everything but the motor,bent prop and about 1/2 the
instruments.The airplane is tough,but after you see the photos they might
think about beefing up the underside a couple of 1000th.I still have 2 1/2
airplane left ,but have been putting money in my C-180 since I bought it in
April.Maybe a Super Rebel next time.Looking back now It would have made it
w/ a 150hp.The Rebel would be a rocket with it and a borer prop.
A sad Rebel Pilot
Dixon




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