WWII TBM Avenger Ditches on Beach in Florida

A WWII era TBM Avenger was forced to ditch off the coast of Patrick Space Force Base on April 17 due to a mechanical issue. Pilot made a textbook belly landing in the surf & is ok. Surfer however wasn't happy that the Air Force booted him off his waves so the plane's team could recover it, haha. Plane was returning from performing at the Cocoa Beach Air Show just a few miles north.
From the plane's owners:
"We are thankful that our pilot walked away unscathed from the incident. We are also thankful for all of your comments of support you have sent us this day.
If you would like to contribute to a restoration fund, although at this time we are unable to provide a status on whether this will be a static or a flying restoration, you can contribute here:
valiantaircomm..."
More info on the plane itself:
www.valiantair...
All rights reserved, please contact for use & license
- / mikekillianphotography
- / mikekillianphotography
- www.mikekillia...
#TBMAvenger #CocoaBeachAirShow

[@ARCSTREAMS]

BREAKING NEWS: Avenger plane from flight 19 squadron that vanished in the Bermuda triangle in 1945 emerges out of time warp vortex ,pilot stunned to find he travelled 76 years into the future

[@osamabinladen824]

LOL

[@thangaiyanm7898]

@@osamabinladen824 r

[@WAL_DC-6B]

It is to be thankful that on one was injured in the water or TBM while this ditching took place.

[@craigpennington1251]

If they can't successfully belly wrap it and lift it out with a crane. Then floating with airbags to a platform would do the trick. But it needs to come out of the water fast. Salt water corrodes extremely fast. Been through it with an F-4B Phantom. Man what a job that was. You can see the tide pushing it to the shore.

[@MikeKillian]

If you would like to contribute to a restoration fund, although at this time the VAC is unable to provide a status on whether this will be a static or a flying restoration, you can contribute here: valiantaircommand.networkforgood.com/projects/107659-the-tbm-keep-her-flying-campaign?fbclid=IwAR3h8R08TJblAb9udjkjbDbKZvH9tdflD8qqOISeqt5JI8fu0sRabKnqy0s

[@keolath1343]

Cocoa beach local here, the VAC doesn’t like to do static planes, especially if they don’t have to, so they plan on getting her back up and running. They estimate 7 years of restoration work. As of 40 minutes ago from this comment, she’s out of the water and on her way home

[@DerredmaxTRIAX]

Kermit Weeks could recover that bird in less then an hour!

[@oy3855]

im glad the plane made a minor damage from a crash landing lucky

[@brendanpells912]

Looks like the tide is going out. Hopefully they can get a mobile crane down on to the beach and recover it without too much damage.

[@MikeKillian]

the tide was coming in actually. They're floating it 2 miles south for recovery now, not using Port Canaveral

[@brendanpells912]

@@MikeKillian Yes, I saw another video where it looked like they pulled it further inshore from where it actually ditched. I expect it could be towed, especially with some flotation bags attached.

[@aircampilot8025]

I love how everyone is in the surf in clothes like its a beached whale that needs water splashed on it i guess they couldn't have the conversation on the sand

[@scottarmstrong666]

Flight 19 finally come home did it, just a tad late.😁

[@ARCSTREAMS]

better late than never

[@scottarmstrong666]

That bloody triangle, I wonder if one day the waters going to go missing.😁

[@danodamano2581]

Just completed restoration?

[@FiveCentsPlease]

+ Dano damano Yes, January 2020.

[@Laura-wc5xt]

after an 18 year restoration

[@mybluebelly]

Let me guess, ran out of fuel ?

[@Laura-wc5xt]

no, engine failure

[@johnkamm8886]

So sad..😥

[@emre2na]

Sad.

[@humbertomonteiro6742]

So slow the recovery!

[@stephenthoms9139]

Expensive problem

[@ARCSTREAMS]

ohh well better late than never

[@gehlen52]

A bent prop and water damage, could have been a lot worse.

[@sducoco74]

I guess the problem is the salt everywhere in unaccessible areas , maybe they should sink it in a swimming pool to clean out most of the salt before getting it dry. Alluminum with salt corrodes really fast.

[@fxsrider]

Jimmy Page surfs?

[@Laura-wc5xt]

now that's funny

[@garycraig9361]

Anytime a piece of history goes down it hurts, I am grateful to Jesus none were injured, I hope they can recover and restore this wonderful aircraft.

[@enthusiastisch1922]

"Grateful to Jesus" how delusional.

[@nonchablunt]

i'm grateful for the atheist science that goes into aviation and the skills of the pilot.

[@seanwhittington6637]

I’m sure they will fix it back

[@garycraig9361]

@@enthusiastisch1922 Your ignorance shines as a dark light!

[@ARCSTREAMS]

if you read the description the owner says he is not sure if they can restore it for flight again or just for show ,but only been a day now and already taking contributions? lol

[@LilJerg]

If the wings still fold, you could transport it without having to take the plane apart. Hopefully.

[@louielouiepks]

Think i would have tried the beach. Take it apart and put it in a fresh water lake to flush the salt out. Only way to get all the salt out of all the hidden areas.

[@Lockbar]

Torpedo bomber becomes torpedo boat.

[@dirtydwg]

Needs a a priscope retro-fit

[@abysmith9083]

kamikaze...

[@tlkedits5162]

Great landing!

[@crooked-halo]

He almost killed swimming kids. He ditched way outside the approved emergency ditching area to try to save the aircraft, by getting it out of water ASAP near the beach. He kept flying the Avenger after three pilots in the air, and the Air Boss, all told him he was trailing smoke. He stated on the radio it'll be OK. He returned to the airshow box twice, at 200 ft AGL, after being informed he was trailing smoke. He didn't attend the mandatory pilot's briefing. There were maintenance errors on this plane, which caused oil starvation. He made major, life-endangering pilot errors. He should be punished, along with Valiant Air Command. Several kids were nearly killed by this menu of pilot, mechanic, and company errors.

[@milliondollarsooner]

As long as the pilot lived we are doing good

[@crooked-halo]

@@milliondollarsooner We'll be doing even better if the pilot learns and executes a huge lesson from his life-threatening decisions.

[@luuxuu]

Gj. none hurt

[@jeffmoore9487]

This guy landed with swimmers to the left, right, front, and back. Why? Wickedly dangerous. 50 yards out, there was nobody.

[@Laura-wc5xt]

he also had no engine running////

[@mgn5667]

Too bad it Wasnt a Grumman Goose

[@valeriethornblade9466]

George H Bush

[@tlkedits5162]

Ditching, Ditching!

[@k.s.333]

Not something you see every day...

[@andreamassara590]

TBM (GM): crash landing. TBF (Grumman Ironworks): keeps on flying.

[@osamabinladen824]

It's a seaplane now.

[@dobermanpac1064]

Waste of my time.

[@shakey2634]

Salt water will ruin anything electric. Maybe not right away, but soon. It will cost 10x the price to make flyable again. Total engine overhaul/replacement. All electrics ripped out and replaced. Pneumatic system flushed and treated with anti-corrosion. The list is almost endless.

[@namibgtv6]

True. And then maybe the biggest issue is oxidation/corrosion on the wing spar and frame itself. To rectify this they would normally take the skin of entirely and treat/replace the remaining frame and spars before re skinning the whole deal. This would essentially be an entire restoration. Very very time consuming and expensive.

[@jburkard2395]

That was one awesome show. Those jets were so loud