Aerobatic pilot Johann Fesl (58) from Mondsee overturned on landing in Hörsching (Upper Austria). He miraculously escaped with a few cuts, but mourns the loss of his Yakolev Yak 55, saying, “The plane was completely wrecked.”
“I was lying face down under the plane with a seven-point seat belt, like in a Formula 1 car. You can only move your head and arms. The gas was dripping in my face. Every minute is incredibly long. I want the rescue team from thank the airport and the army, who arrived very quickly,” says Johann Fesl (58), professional detective and aerobatic pilot from Mondsee. As reported recently, he survived a spectacular accident on Saturday.
Landing gear hit the runway
According to the police report, Fesl lost the right tire of his small Yakolev Yak 55 plane when landing at Linz-Hörsching Airport around 3:30 p.m. The landing gear hit the runway, causing the small plane to flip over and land on the roof in the adjacent meadow.
About how the accident happened, Fesl has another version ready: “Like 300 times before, I flew with the training display. I canceled my flight because of a thunderstorm. During the landing approach it was extremely gusty, reaching 30 knots, or the equivalent of 60 km/h. I tried to reduce the speed as gently as possible. That worked until the landing gear hooked up.”
“At a moment like that you just know you can’t do much more. I really don’t know if I lost the band before or after landing.”
Suffer only cuts
Miraculously, Johann Fesl suffered only a few cuts to his head in the spectacular rollover. He really regrets his plane. The 900 kilogram Russian Yakolev Yak 55, made of titanium and aluminum, was a Soviet sports aircraft. His model was built in 1990. Fesl: “The aircraft has been completely scrapped. Of these, only two were in Austria. I had the YAK overhauled a month ago, it was in top condition. I’d rather not even think about the financial side.” One thing is for sure, Fesl wants to keep flying despite his accident.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
