Badluck in Omaka

Omaka Aerodrome in New Zealand was the scene of the crash of Yakovlev Yak-3 ZK-VVS #35 Full Noise on 11 May 2023. Pilot Graeme Frew was set the fly his Yak, but aborted his ascent and as a result of that the plane went off the end of the runway, across the road, and landed in a fence instead. The pilot, an experienced aviator, was uninjured but said to be a ‘bit shaken’ (as we can imagine).

On impact the spinner and propellor separated from the engine, but this together with minor other damage is thought to be repairable.

The Yak-3 is one of the series of post war aircraft (c/n 0470106) produced in Orenburg (Russia) and built in 1993 by Flight Magic in Santa Monica (CA). It is powered by an American Allison V-1710 engine. It was used in air racing as N73FT and N74FT until the plane crashed during take-off from Reno (NV) on 13 September 1999. The Yak was rebuilt in Sonoma (CA) until sold to present owner Frew in 2001.

Photo: Full Noise