12/19/20 Mooney pilot down Burleson, TX

[Nick Pilotte]

I hate to do this, but as a Mooney community we should all know.  The pilot was Earl Kirkpatrick who was on his first flight in a Sonex he built over the last 7 years.  It seems he developed engine trouble and did not make the runway on his return.  I read the Kathryn’s Report and saw the M20J that he owned N17NS, which was a beautiful plane.  I’m not linking that as I found the crash scene photos inappropriate.  

From: WFAA in DFW

“One person is dead, and another is injured following a small plane crash in Johnson County, officials say.

Around 2:30 p.m., emergency crews responded after a single-engine Sonex experimental aircraft crashed in the back parking lot of a building at 605 E. Renfro Street in Burleson, police said. 

Officials told WFAA that the pilot was the only occupant and he was pronounced dead at the scene, and another person was injured while trying to rescue the victim.
Police have not released the victim's name. 

The Federal Aviation Administration says the crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. 

This is a developing story.”

https://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/former-marine-corps-league-chaplain-dies-when-kit-plane-crashes-on-its-first-flight-1.656201

Below is Earl with his Mooney.

[aviatoreb]

Oh no I am very sad to hear this.

Erik

[carusoam]

Prayers for our lost brother...

Best regards,

-a-

[aviatoreb]

I read he was a retired Marine corps chaplain and was selected as the 2019 regional Marine of the year.  Mr Kirkpatrick clearly had rich and impactful life.  Rest In Peace sir.

[Hank]

As the son of a career Marine officer, I picked up on both the Marine reference in the attached article title and the embroidery on his hat.

RIP, sir, and Semper Fi! Laid my dad to his final rest earlier this year . . ...

[Mooney in Oz]

This is so sad to read.

Imagine how his son must feel after listening and watching his father's final moments.

[kortopates]

So sad!
Apparently he hit wires trying to come back.
Cool to read a first responder was trying to move the electrical wires away to protect the pilot, but apparently got injured doing so.


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[carusoam]

A note of awareness for our key person in the loss of pilot category... @mike_elliott

Best regards,

-a-

[aviatoreb]

1 hour ago, kortopates said:

So sad!
Apparently he hit wires trying to come back.
Cool to read a first responder was trying to move the electrical wires away to protect the pilot, but apparently got injured doing so.


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I haven’t seen any word on how that first responder is or how serious his injuries were.  Have you?

erik

[kortopates]

I haven’t seen any word on how that first responder is or how serious his injuries were.  Have you?
erik

No, one source said he was moving electrical power lines away, another source said he was injured.


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[aviatoreb]

1 hour ago, kortopates said:

No, one source said he was moving electrical power lines away, another source said he was injured.


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That can definitely be a serious situation.

[Greg Ellis]

I knew Earl Kirkpatrick.  He had his hangar 2 doors down from mine.  We would speak quite often and he always made time for everyone.  We were usually early birds out at the airport on Fridays and Saturdays.  We would stop and have a short conversation about flying, etc... and then go about our business.  He took it upon himself to get to know each and every pilot that was on our Southwest side of the airport.  He was a good man and will be missed.

[Parker_Woodruff]

His tail number is 2 away from the retired Embry-Riddle trainer I used to own (N19NS).

It's been a rough few weeks in our area for plane crashes.