L-29 Accident In Ca-2 killed... (archived from Jul. 7, 2009)

[Warbirdnerd]

Sad news for sure. Sorry if this was already posted.
From ANN:

L-29 Down In CA Air Show Accident Czech-Built L-29 Delfin Was Performing Low Passes At The Time Of The Incident

Dave Zweigle, the Assistant City Manager of Tehachapi, California and Robert Chamberlain of Morrison, Colorado were both killed when the L-29 Delphin they were flying crashed during a 4th of July Air Show in Tehachapi.
File Photo

The Tehachapi News reports Zweigle was piloting the Czech-built
L-29 at the time of the crash. It was one of three of the jet trainers participating in the air show Saturday. Chamberlain was the president of the Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District, according to Denver Television Station ABC 7.

A witness,Jeannette Crounse, who lives near the airport said she saw the accident happen. "We heard them flying over. I said, 'I need to check this out.' It was just in time to watch them go down in the road. I was stunned. "It went right straight down," she said. "We saw it hit. There was a huge billow of black cloud right in the middle of the road." A subsequent fire threatened several homes in the area, but it was contained by local firefighters and residents.

The Tehachapi News reports that Zweigle had been in the process of refurbishing the vintage trainer for several years, and was preparing the airplane for its annual. The accident is still under investigation.

[corsair166b]

Denver TV also reported Chamberlain was a major player in the test flight program of the B-1 bomber and did some other notable aviation stuff, not sure of the details....never met the guy but condolences to the families of both individuals....tragic crash.

Mark

[VCS1]

David Zweigle and I went to A&P school at Kings River Commuity College in Reedley California from 1994 to 1996. He was more experienced than many us new to aviation as he had already been involved in the maintenance of his own aircraft. He was always willing to help other students at our school in the 44 subject areas we went over to complete our training. He was a talented mechanic and pilot that had to over come alot of adversity just to get back into the cockpit and walk around school. Before he attended A&P school he had been involved in a freak accident where he was pulling a prop through during a prepurchase inspection and the magneto impulse coupling kicked in causing the engine to start. He was thrown back and his foot passed though the propeller arc virtually severing it. He endured many painful surguries to reattach and fix it. He brought pictures in and gave all us A&P school students a vivid lesson in safety and procedures. My dad called me last night and told me about the accident. A true pilot to the end, my dad relayed a story about David that shortly before the accident he told his wife if anything were to ever to happen to him, that he wanted it to be doing the thing he loved the most , flying. He will be missed.

David Kenney

[vg-photo]

I have spoken with Bob on a few occasions and flown with his son-in-law. Bob was a good guy and a great pilot. It's a sad event in aviation.

[the330thbg]

Good grief guys and gals.., be careful out there!!

That is four we lost in one week!!!

[fredthe3]

I know all you wont believe me but Hi. I my Christian Duplantier and i am 12 years old. My mother Tia chamberlain was daughter of Bob Or Robert as some people called him so i am his grandson. NO JOKE. He is my grandfather and it was a tragic loss that he died that day. Huntley His wife Was devastated.Ok well i have told my share bye now

[51fixer]

:spit I know all you wont believe me but Hi. I my Christian Duplantier and i am 12 years old. My mother Tia chamberlain was daughter of Bob Or Robert as some people called him so i am his grandson. NO JOKE. He is my grandfather and it was a tragic loss that he died that day. Huntley His wife Was devastated.Ok well i have told my share bye now

Christian,
Welcome to WIX.
I'm sorry for the loss of your Grandfather. It sounds like he was a well respected guy.
The pain of losing our friends and loved ones is tough but if we think of them and remember how they were important to us they won't be forgotten.

Mods- Maybe you can add a date to the title so this doesn't alarm to many.

[Ryan Keough]

Mods- Maybe you can add a date to the title so this doesn't alarm to many.

Thanks Rich, I changed the title to avoid confusion.

Christian, thank you for joining us here on WIX and thank you for posting in memory of your grandfather. I am very sorry for your loss, but I am sure he would be honored to know that you're keeping his spirit alive through your interest in the warbirds that he loved by joining us here at WIX. I hope you enjoy the site and please let us know if you have any questions... we are all glad to help young folks like yourself that are keeping an interest in our aviation history.

Thanks,
Ryan