P-38 wreckage

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:39 pm

I was wondering if anyone knew or had seen the wreckage of the P-38 that Jeff Ethell was killed in. I had heard that it is a possible restoration candidate. It is only too bad that we can't bring Jeff back.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:49 pm

It was completely smashed flat has a pancake. The owner Bruce Pruitt
bought the remains back from the ins. company. A friend of mine recovered it from the crash site.

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

I seem to remember that there was a rather unpleasent law suit in the aftermath of the accident. Presumably that has now been resolved?

Are there any photos in circulation of the aircraft (painted as 'Tangerine' IIRC) after it was painted up?

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:53 pm

The last time I saw the remains they were at Aerocrafters in Santa Rosa, Ca but that was a few years ago.

I sure miss talking to Jeff. What a nice, friendly approachable kind of guy. What a tragedy in so many different ways especially for Bruce Pruitt.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:12 pm

Yeah, I had the honor of helping him dig his rental car keys out of the radiator of P-51 nervous Energy once.(Don't ask) He was one hell of guy.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:25 pm

Quote:

Are there any photos in circulation of the aircraft (painted as 'Tangerine' IIRC) after it was painted up?

This wasn't Tangerine but the silver one with blue trim.

Quote:

I seem to remember that there was a rather unpleasent law suit in the aftermath of the accident. Presumably that has now been resolved?

Yes, Jack E. was responsible for the safe and legal operation of the a/c and allowed an un-qualified pilot to fly it. Jeff didn't have a P-38 type rating. I believe the law-suit was settle out of court.
My understanding was that Jeff's life ins. company refused to pay-off the because of this also.

So let that be a huge lesson to you all. fly safe, fly smart, and fly legal!! :!:

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

Jack Cook wrote:

This wasn't Tangerine but the silver one with blue trim.

Yes, of course. 'Tangerine' was the one retained by Erickson. Confusing my P-38s again.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:14 pm

So waut Tangerine is the O.D. one and Jeff was flying a silver one?

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:18 pm

Quote:

So waut Tangerine is the O.D. one and Jeff was flying a silver one?

Yes, Jeff was flying s/n 44-26969
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p38registry/p38-4426969.html

Simcoe Warrior · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:47 pm

Taigh Ramey wrote:

The last time I saw the remains they were at Aerocrafters in Santa Rosa, Ca but that was a few years ago.

I sure miss talking to Jeff. What a nice, friendly approachable kind of guy. What a tragedy in so many different ways especially for Bruce Pruitt.

I never met the man but I enjoyed his work. Somewhere I have a copy of Flight Journal magazine where he chronicles his first time flying the P-38.

IIRC, his father flew Lightnings during the war and again if IIRC, Jeff said he loved flying it. Sadly, barely a month later he was gone.

T J Johansen · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:13 pm

Jack Cook wrote:

It was completely smashed flat has a pancake. The owner Bruce Pruitt
bought the remains back from the ins. company. A friend of mine recovered it from the crash site.

With the intention to rebuild it, or to make sure no one else touches it? Does Pruett still have the P-63?

T J

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:18 pm

Jeff was really a great person to talk to. He and Ed Shipley came thru at one of the CAF's Midland show in P-51's and I gave him a ride over the HQ's and back, he would take the time and listen to you and answer your questions.

Lynn

Jase · **Posted:** Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:12 am

Jeff was an NCS member for many years, and was a great supporter of our goals. Helluva nice guy to boot.

To expand on what Jack said above, as I recall the issue was that Jeff WAS rated in the *experimental* version of the P-38 via a LOA. The issue became that the one he was killed in was licenced in the *limited* category, hence the legal wrangling.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:26 am

Quote:

To expand on what Jack said above, as I recall the issue was that Jeff WAS rated in the *experimental* version of the P-38 via a LOA. The issue became that the one he was killed in was licenced in the *limited* category, hence the legal wrangling.

Sorry but you're wrong. Jeff had a all piston experimental letter.
Both Tillimook P-38s were in the limited catagory. He had 0 experience in P-38s and was not legal to fly them and took no training prior or made any effort to get legal. He and I talked about some of these issues. When I asked if he was truely ready to fly it. He replied "I've been ready all my life!" It truly sucked watching him buy the farm!

Randy Haskin · **Posted:** Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:31 am

Jack Cook wrote:

Jeff had a all piston experimental letter.
Both Tillimook P-38s were in the limited catagory. He had 0 experience in P-38s and was not legal to fly them

I don't follow..if he had an all-piston LOA, then why wasn't he legal?

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