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I arrived on scene of a A-4 crash just south of Willow Grove. A hydralic problem forced both A-4s to return. He came back west of the airfield and made a left turn for final approach. But hydralics failed right then. He flew directly over top of a gas station roof (Hess?) on 611, struck electric and phone wires across the street, and proceded down the side street (Willow - adjacent to Blair Mill Road if I remember), skidding between parked cars. IOW he rode the plane all the way down - still inside as it took out wires on 611 and touched the street.
When I got there, all that was left were two engines and lots of scrap. This at the end of a 1 block street. Plane stopped before hitting a house at end of the street. 50 feet forward and to the right of that debris was a parachute. Chute hanging in a tree front of that house. Pilot ejected after plane was down on that side street. His chute hanging just beyond the fire line.
A rumor about crash landings. You may walk away, but if you abandoned the plane too early, then other pilots will never drink with you again. This guy probably never had to buy another drink. A spectaculor landing down a side street without taking out a single house. Jet fuel burned out all cars parked on that narrow residential street.
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