"Stunt Flier Dies In Crash During Show - Valparaiso, Ind. (AP) - A flaming conclusion to an air show during dedication of an airport runway has claimed the life of William J. Adams, a stunt flier from Menomonee Falls, Wis. "Bill died doing what he wanted to do," said Adams' manager, Doug Cameron of Utica, N.Y., after a wing of the victim's biplane collapsed and the plane plunged to earth Saturday. Adams, 40, had flown upside down to cut a ribbon opening Porter County Municipal Airport's $1 million jet runway. Cameron said Adams had but two more manueuvers to perform when the $55,000 plane lost a wing during a roll, plunged to the ground and caught fire. Adams has been a stunt flier for 14 years, and operated his own flying circus for the last five. He was to have performed Sunday in Juneau, Wis." Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan, Wisconsin) 25 Jul 1966.
It was determined shortly after the crash that the engine crank shaft broke and one of the propeller blades cut the flying wires between the left wings. With the left wings alongside the fuselage the aircraft spun several times from about 700 feet before hitting the ground. (Submitted by Bill Adams, Jr. on 25 May 2013.)
It was determined shortly after the crash that the engine crank shaft broke and one of the propeller blades cut the flying wires between the left wings. With the left wings alongside the fuselage the aircraft spun several times from about 700 feet before hitting the ground. (Submitted by Bill Adams, Jr. on 25 May 2013.)
"Stunt Flier Dies In Crash During Show - Valparaiso, Ind. (AP) - A flaming conclusion to an air show during dedication of an airport runway has claimed the life of William J. Adams, a stunt flier from Menomonee Falls, Wis. "Bill died doing what he wanted to do," said Adams' manager, Doug Cameron of Utica, N.Y., after a wing of the victim's biplane collapsed and the plane plunged to earth Saturday. Adams, 40, had flown upside down to cut a ribbon opening Porter County Municipal Airport's $1 million jet runway. Cameron said Adams had but two more manueuvers to perform when the $55,000 plane lost a wing during a roll, plunged to the ground and caught fire. Adams has been a stunt flier for 14 years, and operated his own flying circus for the last five. He was to have performed Sunday in Juneau, Wis." Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan, Wisconsin) 25 Jul 1966.
It was determined shortly after the crash that the engine crank shaft broke and one of the propeller blades cut the flying wires between the left wings. With the left wings alongside the fuselage the aircraft spun several times from about 700 feet before hitting the ground. (Submitted by Bill Adams, Jr. on 25 May 2013.)
It was determined shortly after the crash that the engine crank shaft broke and one of the propeller blades cut the flying wires between the left wings. With the left wings alongside the fuselage the aircraft spun several times from about 700 feet before hitting the ground. (Submitted by Bill Adams, Jr. on 25 May 2013.)
