HARPERSFIELD TOWNSHIP — The law of gravity states: what goes up must come down, and as a local pilot of a P-51 Mustang replica aircraft discovered Thursday afternoon, coming down is the hard part.
The pilot, William T. Koleno II, 40, of Geneva, was seen walking away from the crash sight escorted by Ohio Highway Patrol Saybrook Post Trooper Nathan Dutton and Harpersfield Fire Department rescue personnel.
The aircraft, a three-quarter scale World War II replica named, “Miss Helen,” crashed on a small inlet of land next to a large pond north of 4180 Clay St., which is the Germack Airstrip.
At the crash sight, the right wing was torn off and the propeller had dug into the soft ground.
Koleno, a licensed pilot, who has been flying for more than 18 years, was turning to make a landing at the Germack Airstrip when the engine revved and then began to lose power rapidly, Dutton said.
“Koleno attempted to adjust the prop but it did not work; he was unable to pick up speed and the plane quit flying,” he said.
“This airplane was just completed,” said a bystander who would only identify himself as one of the people who helped to build the aircraft. “It only had about 25 hours flying time on it; it took about six months to build.”
In fact, the aircraft is a kit plane that is sold at Titan Industries, where Koleno is employed, Dutton said.
The bystander also said the aircraft was made of 4130 fuselage aluminum skin and has a Suzuki 2.7 constant speed propeller.
“Koleno only suffered a few scratches, he is a very lucky man,” Dutton said.
The investigation will be turned over to the FAA for further review.
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Pilot walks away from crash
Plane from kit loses power, hits pond
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