Kentucky tornado wreaked havoc at vintage aircraft fly-in

While many pilots have fretted over dangerous weather in the air and on the ground, few have experienced the type of destruction that befell members of the T-34 Association, who had gathered a baker's dozen of vintage Beechcraft T–34 Mentors at the airport for the group’s annual Spring Thing fly-in. Members had been practicing formation flying earlier in the day and had headed to their hotel rooms for the evening before the winds arrived.

“We were aware that the forecast called for severe thunderstorms with the possibility of tornado activity,” said Jim Clark, a director in the T-34 Association. With the worsening weather in mind, pilots asked whether hangars were available on the field, and airport staff found space for all 13 of the visiting T–34s before the pilots left for the hotel. Groups of aircraft were parked in large hangars while others spent the night in individual T-hangars.

At the hotel, all seemed well as the expected rainy weather moved in. One of the first signs of trouble was a message from a member’s wife, who had been contacted by search and rescue personnel regarding activation of the emergency locator transmitter in her husband’s T–34, Clark said. The pilot assured his wife that he was safe, but the ELT alarm was a mystery—at first.

Michael Grossmann, the association’s treasurer, recalled finding out about the destruction from a TV news broadcast. “Our phones were blowing up because of the tornadoes, so I turned on the news and that’s when they showed the airport,” he said. “They also showed the helicopter that was destroyed.”

Two medical transport operations were on the field and aircraft belonging to each sustained damage. One of the companies, Air Evac Lifeteam 179, posted an update on Facebook on May 17.

“Our hearts are with the London, Kentucky community following the devasting tornado and severe weather that impacted the region. In the midst of the damage sustained across the area, including one of our aircraft, we are incredibly grateful that all our Air Evac Lifeteam 179 - London, KY crew members who were at the base are safe. We are checking in with all our employees locally and stand with the community during this difficult time and remain committed to providing care and support.”

PHI Air Medical, which also has a team based at the airport, posted, “Our hearts are with the Laurel County, KY community and all those affected by the devastating tornado. While our team at London-Corbin Airport is safe, our facilities and aircraft sustained significant damage. We are grateful for the first responders and stand ready to support the recovery efforts.”

At the airport the next morning, the magnitude of the storm became clear. Of the 13 T–34s at the fly-in, six were “totaled,” Clark said, adding that the damage seemed “so random.” While the tie-down gear he left on the ramp the night before was still there, airplanes parked in a nearby hangar that gave way were blown across the tarmac into “a jumbled mess,” he said.

Clark and Grossmann were among the pilots whose T–34s survived the storm. Both airplanes were in T-hangars that appeared untouched by the tornado, they said. Five of the surviving T–34s flew in formation over the area, including where they believe the tornado first touched down. They also performed a “missing man” maneuver in honor of those who died in the storm. Grossmann and Clark said their group has grown attached to the local community, where it has held its annual fly-in for the last five years.  

The T-34 Association was formed in 1975 to give people who were buying military surplus Beechcraft T–34A Mentor trainers a platform for supporting each other by sharing operating and maintenance information. As the popularity of the aircraft, which serves as an entry-level warbird, grew over the years, so did the association’s roster. Today the group includes more than 600 members, many of whom do not own a T–34. Clark estimated there are about 200 T–34s still flying.

There are several businesses at the airport including manufacturing, maintenance and repair, and flight instruction. Tom Cooper, co-owner of Kolb Aircraft, a maker of ultralight airplane kits and components, said the company’s main building partially collapsed, some of its trailers were damaged, and it lost several aircraft.

“The good thing is, about 90 percent of our working equipment—jigs, fixtures and such, are salvageable,” Cooper said. “And nobody in my crew was hurt.”

Although he said the tornado is the worst challenge the company has faced, he believed the operation will recover.

“I’m really optimistic,” he said.