Langley AFB. Possible crash a few minutes ago.

I volunteer at a museum that has an annual airshow and Rob has been at all but maybe one or two I can remember over the years. Besides being an Amazing pilot he was probably the most approachable airshow performer I have ever met. Always took time to answer questions and take photos with people especially kids. As soon as I heard this yesterday I thought this has to be equipment failure especially on landing.

If you never heard the story of Rob landing after a catastrophic engine failure in 2018 landing at an abandoned airport it is quite a story.
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2018/march/29/rob-holland-unhurt-after-forced-landing

He will be missed. His parents, Jennifer and their dog Buddy often came to our show, just wonderful people and I am praying for peace for them in this difficult time.
 
Lowflynjack said:
Yeah, flying has a level of risk that we accept because we can't stand the thought of being ground-bound. Because of this accident and the kind of work I do, I've had a lot of conversations with friends today. The average pilot accepts some risk, an airshow pilot takes a lot more risk, and as a photographer flying in formation, I have more risk than the average pilot too. I wouldn't change a thing though. I do everything I can to stay safe, but we all know things go wrong.

I was friends with Jim Leroy and when he crashed it took quite a toll on me... shook me to my core. If an amazing pilot like Jim can make a mistake that costs him his life, how can I ever feel safe? But when we'd sit around talking, he'd acknowledge that he was walking on the edge, but he'd always say the view was amazing.

RIP Rob. It won't be the same not seeing you at Oshkosh this year.
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I felt the same way when Richard McSpadden crashed. Gave me pause.
 
Lowflynjack said:
...
I was friends with Jim Leroy and when he crashed it took quite a toll on me... shook me to my core. If an amazing pilot like Jim can make a mistake that costs him his life, how can I ever feel safe? But when we'd sit around talking, he'd acknowledge that he was walking on the edge, but he'd always say the view was amazing.

RIP Rob. It won't be the same not seeing you at Oshkosh this year.
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Dittos, Jack. Jim Leroy hit me hard and still feel that loss when I drive by or fly out of KDPA where many of us attended his memorial service. Rob Holland is going to be another long term hurt especially at OSH this year; it will certainly not feel the same for a long time for me, anyway.:(
 
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i am in no way speculating, but i can't help but think of the story that sean tucker tells about the stick breaking off in his hands one time. the first thing the comes to mind with me is that some little bolt or fastener gave way. i just cant see a structural failure of that plane on a simple overhead break. even the best cant overcome something like that at low altitude. RIP Mr Holland.
 
Does anyone know if Langley AFB has arresting cables?
 

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So does anyone have any scoop as to what happened yet? Surely someone on the ground must’ve seen it.
 
No, the arresting cables are not to blame. Pilot is supposed to avoid them. Either touchdown after, or before if there is enough room to stop.
 
Everything I've heard is the wing broke or came off. I'm not understanding all of it, but apparently the aircraft had a previous incident a while back, could have been hidden damage.
 
Are the cables always up on rwy 8?

The tower raises & lowers the cables at many ANG bases.
 
Cloudhound said:
Are the cables always up on rwy 8?

The tower raises & lowers the cables at many ANG bases.
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I don’t recall the BAK-12 being retractable; I believe the BAK-14 is. It’s been a decade and a half since I last saw that question in the MQF. I guess rote memorization has a shelf life.
 
I would bet that there aren’t photos because it was on an Air Force Base. The usual airshow photographers probably aren’t allowed in until airshow day.
 
TCABM said:
I don’t recall the BAK-12 being retractable; I believe the BAK-14 is. It’s been a decade and a half since I last saw that question in the MQF. I guess rote memorization has a shelf life.
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Yeah BAK-12 is donut just like the Navy / Marine E-28. Couldn’t imagine a BAK-12 took him out. I’ve rolled over KCHS BAK-12 in a C-150 before. Just gotta keep the nose gear up. Plus, ATC is required to tell him the position of a raised donut gear. Perhaps hit the BAK-15 net in the overrun???
 
Velocity173 said:
Yeah BAK-12 is donut just like the Navy / Marine E-28. Couldn’t imagine a BAK-12 took him out. I’ve rolled over KCHS BAK-12 in a C-150 before. Just gotta keep the nose gear up. Plus, ATC is required to tell him the position of a raised donut gear. Perhaps hit the BAK-15 net in the overrun???
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Looking at FlightAware and adsbexhange, I think the Bak-12 speculation doesn’t jive with the actual data.

If he flew a break, it doesn’t show on either site, but I suspect he would’ve broke about where cable is on rwy 8.

Who knows, I’m a bourbon in tonight.
 
TCABM said:
Looking at FlightAware and adsbexhange, I think the Bak-12 speculation doesn’t jive with the actual data.

If he flew a break, it doesn’t show on either site, but I suspect he would’ve broke about where cable is on rwy 8.

Who knows, I’m a bourbon in tonight.
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Yeah they say his track showed him airborne, started a left turn (overhead), then the track stops. Not sure how an arresting gear would cause that.
 
Velocity173 said:
Yeah they say his track showed him airborne, started a left turn (overhead), then the track stops. Not sure how an arresting gear would cause that.
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It doesn’t, but just looking at the breadcrumbs, it appears he flew a straight in to 8 with the track moving left at about the captains bars, then stopping in the grass north of 8. Visually, it’s deceiving.
 
Latest rumor within acro community is possible heart attack. Usually I discount such rumors as not wanting to believe Pilot Error. However, this came from someone highly placed who has seen his share of fatal mistakes.

IMO if the cause were readily apparent from the accident scene or witness accounts, it would have leaked out within the IAC already. That probably rules out the arrester cable.
 
Ed Haywood said:
Latest rumor within acro community is possible heart attack. Usually I discount such rumors as not wanting to believe Pilot Error. However, this came from someone highly placed who has seen his share of fatal mistakes.

IMO if the cause were readily apparent from the accident scene or witness accounts, it would have leaked out within the IAC already. That probably rules out the arrester cable.
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Seems like big speculation, but always possible. The g loads these guys pull during their demonstrations can’t be good for the body over time.
 
RyanB said:
Seems like big speculation, but always possible. The g loads these guys pull during their demonstrations can’t be good for the body over time.
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Sudden medical incapacitation don't seem to be all that prevalent in the acro community, AFAIK. As for big speculation, well, count the rumors in this thread already.

Nauga,
and his singing porcupine
 
TCABM said:
I’m actually a bit surprised about the lack of info that exists publicly right now. No live audio, no yapping witnesses, etc.

Kind of refreshing.
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That it happened at a military facility likely contributes to that fact, no?
 
nauga said:
Sudden medical incapacitation don't seem to be all that prevalent in the acro community, AFAIK. As for big speculation, well, count the rumors in this thread already.
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I am admittedly the source of most of them. But since this is the view where I am sitting right now, you can imagine I'm hearing stuff. Lots of downtime to BS waiting for 30 other pilots to fly 3 sequences each.

PXL_20250426_142048020.jpg
 
Ed Haywood said:
I am admittedly the source of most of them. But since this is the view where I am sitting right now, you can imagine I'm hearing stuff. Lots of downtime to BS waiting for 30 other pilots to fly 3 sequences each.

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Considering the magnitude of this tragedy, I don't want to be disrespectful and wander off topic. But that Extra is a beautiful airplane. The livery is just stunning.
 
Baked Potato said:
That it happened at a military facility likely contributes to that fact, no?
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Except for the LiveATC recordings, yes. In least from a military airfield perspective. A lot of the folks that would be likely witnesses are also educated or familiar enough with the mishap investigation process to understand who gets witness statements as well as the standard mantra around “No comment”.

That the .mil aircrew and aviation operations and support communities deal with mishaps on a more routine basis than the general public drives a cultural around following the process.
 
3393RP said:
Considering the magnitude of this tragedy, I don't want to be disrespectful and wander off topic. But that Extra is a beautiful airplane. The livery is just stunning.
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Not disrespectful at all!!! Rob Holland clearly loved airplanes and flying, and by all accounts made it his life purpose to share that love with others through his incredible skill. I can think of nothing more honoring to his legacy than carrying that love forward.

Half the people at this contest are good friends of his. They are remembering him by flying hard, competing, and running a good contest.

Some more photos for you. I agree, that 330SC is probably the best looking airplane I have ever seen. Mega bonus points if you can guess the origin of the term "bozo" on the tail.

PXL_20250426_162831588.jpg PXL_20250426_162844026.jpgPXL_20250426_162851397.jpgPXL_20250426_162933320.jpg
 
Ed Haywood said:
Not disrespectful at all!!! Rob Holland clearly loved airplanes and flying, and by all accounts made it his life purpose to share that love with others through his incredible skill. I can think of nothing more honoring to his legacy than carrying that love forward.

Half the people at this contest are good friends of his. They are remembering him by flying hard, competing, and running a good contest.

Some more photos for you. I agree, that 330SC is probably the best looking airplane I have ever seen. Mega bonus points if you can guess the origin of the term "bozo" on the tail.

View attachment 140308 View attachment 140305View attachment 140306View attachment 140307
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Wasn’t Bozo the Navy pilot that took Tom Cruise on initial flight training for Top Gun?
 
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