Extraordinary footage has emerged of Draco, the turbine powered Wilga show aircraft built and flown by Mike Patey, suffering a devastating ground loop followed by an equally unusual video by Patey explaining what happened.
“I just crashed my plane,” said Patey. “Definitely was my fault. So silly, so dumb. I hope we all learn something and become better pilots from my mistake.
“I’m heartbroken. I will learn from my mistake, maybe showing where I failed others may learn as well.”
The accident happened at Reno, Nevada, where the annual national air races have just finished.
“Hit a big gust on takeoff, picked the wing up and turned the belly directly into wind,” continued Patey. “I felt like a kite – I had no control left. Should have picked another runway or not flown.”
