MIDLAND, Texas (June 16, 2005) - A Commemorative Air Force (CAF) operated single-engine World War II training aircraft, a Fairchild PT-26 Cornell, N26GA, was involved in an accident approximately 11:30 a.m. EDST, Thursday, June 16, 2005.

The aircraft departed Falcon Field, Peachtree City, Ga., approximately 10:30 a.m. EDST. Some time during the next hour it landed at the nearby Peach State Airport in Williamson, Ga. After landing, the pilot repositioned the airplanefor takeoff. Immediately after take off the airplane struck a tree and crashed, fatally injuring the pilot, James Ford, age 67, of Marietta, GA., and passenger, Robert Lang, age 58, of Marietta, GA.

Both Ford and Lang were CAF members. Ford, was a retired pilot for Delta Airlines and had over 20, 000 flying hours. He was an instructor and a check pilot in the PT-26. Lang was a flight and safety systems engineer for Lockheed Martin. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had flown F-105s and F-4s. He was also a flight instructor for the Lockheed Martin Flying Club.

The airplane is assigned to the Dixie Wing of the CAF, which is based in Peachtree City, Ga. The Dixie Wing's 225 members also maintain and fly the CAF's P-51 Mustang, SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber and C-45 Expeditor. A T-6 Texan and P-63 Kingcobra are under restoration by the Dixie Wing.

The PT-26 is a modified PT-19 with enclosed cockpits to enable the airplane to be used for training during cold weather. It also has a larger engine and electrical system, better instrumentation and a capability for easier starting in cold weather. The Dixie Wing's assigned PT-26 was manufactured in 1943.

The CAF maintains a total of six PT-26s. Four are currently flying - one is based in Albuquerque, N.M., two are in Brownsville, Texas and the other in Indianapolis, Indiana .

The CAF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to flying and restoring vintage aircraft. Headquartered in Midland, Texas, the organization has over 9,500 members and operates a fleet of 154 World War II aircraft .

The FAA and the NTSB are investigating the accident.

For more information please contact Tina Corbett at (432) 563-1000, ext. 2231.

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