Bearcat Accident in Breckenridge, 4/4/12

k5083 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:08 pm

While at it, a few pics of Mr Pardue's other planes over the years.

His FM-2P which, like the Bearcat, later came to be named Kimberly Brooke. As sad as it is when anyone passes, living to 77 and flying WW2 fighters right up to the end is not as bad as having to bury your child.

As much as I enjoyed Pardue's Bearcat acro, his Corsair routines always impressed me the most.

August

Ztex · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:19 pm

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:44 pm

Stephan Wilkinson wrote:

Flying Magazine is reporting that, according to a witness waiting to take off after him, Pardue announced on Unicom (I assume) that he was going to do a half Cuban eight right after takeoff and then do a pass downwind over the runway after rolling upright. He apparently never made it upright and went in vertically after what the witness described as a "split S." Flying titles their on-line report "Low-Level Aerobatics Gone Wrong," near as I can remember.

That's not what happened... Enough already...

Maybe move the focus here to the report today from the NTSB on Reno...

steve dickey · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:33 pm

Nice T-6, what are the three "kills"?

Braveheart51 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 30, 2010 10:22 am **Posts:** 49

steve dickey wrote:

Nice T-6, what are the three "kills"?

Old owner Bob, took on some T-34 pilots and flamed'em

Braveheart51 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 30, 2010 10:22 am **Posts:** 49

P51Mstg wrote:

Big house there..... Hope the tornado missed you....

Mark H

Hey Huffy!

it's Walter

heard you voting for obama again............

bombadier29 · **Joined:** Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:17 pm **Posts:** 272

Lynn Allen wrote:

Stephan Wilkinson wrote:

Flying Magazine is reporting that, according to a witness waiting to take off after him, Pardue announced on Unicom (I assume) that he was going to do a half Cuban eight right after takeoff and then do a pass downwind over the runway after rolling upright. He apparently never made it upright and went in vertically after what the witness described as a "split S." Flying titles their on-line report "Low-Level Aerobatics Gone Wrong," near as I can remember.

That's not what happened...

Can anybody say what really happened? I've seen other boards where people have disagreed with this version also. A private message would be fine.

airnutz · **Posted:** Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:00 am

Stephan Wilkinson wrote:

Flying Magazine is reporting that, according to a witness waiting to take off after him, Pardue announced on Unicom (I assume) that he was going to do a half Cuban eight right after takeoff and then do a pass downwind over the runway after rolling upright. He apparently never made it upright and went in vertically after what the witness described as a "split S." Flying titles their on-line report "Low-Level Aerobatics Gone Wrong," near as I can remember.

I couldn't get the site to load...mebbee a problem in my computer. Did they quote a source or did they simply regurgitate the NTSB preliminary?

Thanx SD!

Steve S · **Posted:** Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:21 am

they quoted the same source that has been previoulsy brouight up in this thread.

51fixer · **Posted:** Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:40 am

jtramo wrote:

I wish everyone would stop bashing:

-NTSB
-FAA
-Flying Magazine
-Witnesses

Have you had dealings with the FAA or the NTSB?
Many of us have some different insights to this process due to our experiences.
It is that history that gives us ammunition to call into question the issues that we raise.

51fixer · **Posted:** Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:36 am

Double Post

jtramo · **Joined:** Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:39 pm **Posts:** 359

51fixer wrote:

jtramo wrote:

I wish everyone would stop bashing:

-NTSB
-FAA
-Flying Magazine
-Witnesses

Have you had dealings with the FAA or the NTSB?
Many of us have some different insights to this process due to our experiences.
It is that history that gives us ammunition to call into question the issues that we raise.

Despite all their faults (many) the NTSB and FAA investigators do this as their profession and possess training and degrees and years of experience in their fields. That being said, my trust in their process isnt anywhere near 100% but I am not about to Monday morning quarterback since im not a professional investigator nor was I there.

I believe these threads are no good and once they take the turn towards speculation or conspiracy in any direction they should be locked.

CraigBirkhold · **Joined:** Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:51 pm **Posts:** 64

I was wondering if anyone has been able to determine if the Bearcat's altimeter was set to the correct barometric pressure? The loss of Mr. Pardue and this great Bearcat is hard for us all to take. God bless HP.

Fearless Tower · **Joined:** Thu May 26, 2011 5:14 pm **Posts:** 368

Steve S wrote:

they quoted the same source that has been previoulsy brouight up in this thread.

I'd say it was more a regurgitation of the prelim rather than straight quoting from the source.

hahnej · **Posted:** Wed Apr 11, 2012 1:02 pm

I don't understand all the debate. He took off, initiated a manuever close to the ground, was unable to complete it. Period.

What do all of us internet armchair investigator 'experts' hope to achieve?

I will miss Howard and his bearcat.

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Bearcat Accident in Breckenridge, 4/4/12

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