Due to some interest expressed in another thread, here's some info from my copy of the Nov. 2006 issue of  Air Classics magazine about the remarkable Bushmaster, which was an updated version of the Ford Tri-Motor:


Basically, after WWII some "Tin Goose" lovers decided that with some mods, a scratch-built "replica" Ford would make an excellent freight hauler for bush operations. It was a good idea, but literally took a long time to get off the ground. This is the second Bushmaster, which was completed 30 years after the formation of the company! Sadly, this is the one that crashed in 2004.

     



Here she is during construction... note the banner.

     



The first one, which took a mere 11 years to see flight after the company was founded... shown here at Long Beach in 1967, during a period of evaluation by the US Army. Not sure what the teeny wheels were for... not very suitable for bush ops.
At any rate, the Army was not interested.
The good news: N7501V is still flying, based at the Golden Wings Museum.

     





The updated "office"... not sure which one this is.

     



The crash of N750RW was captured on videotape; here's a frame. According to the article, during takeoff at Fullerton airport during a public event, it veered to the left, went onto the grass, hit a runway light, then headed for the crowd before becoming airborne. It rolled left, barely missing the control tower and a light pole, and flopped to the ground. witnesses reported that the engines seemed to be developing power until just before impact, when they were apparently throttled back.
The cause? A control lock which consisted of a strap between the left elevator and the rudder, had not been removed. That, and the crew attempting to salvage what was clearly not a workable takeoff. They must have just been in utter disbelief, and could not put two and two together.
Sorry if the image is disturbing, but let it be a reminder: always do a complete preflight!!!

And another reminder: when in doubt, abort!!!

     


The sad aftermath.  What a mess.
Fortunately, there were no pax, and the crew, although seriously injured, survived. Looks like there was no fire, or it was minimal. As stated in the other thread, the minor injuries on the ground were due to airbags going off in nearby cars.
A "close shave", indeed...   




A third Bushmaster was completed and flown, but "disappeared" soon afterwards... the skeletal remains of the fuselage turned up in a trailer park in Quartzite, Arizona.
This photo was taken in 1995.



How's that work for ya, Doug?

That's terrible. I've heard of this guy- he was a "passenger" on that flight (the type is single-pilot certified), but as an experienced pilot, he knew enough to have assisted in the preflight or at least checked the plane himself, for his own peace of mind. The few times I've taken a ride in an unknown plane with an unknown pilot, unless I saw it fly just prior, I've always done at least a cursory walkaround, to look for "little" things like that. I'm still taking a chance on many factors, but at least if there's some obvious problem, it will more likely be spotted by two pairs of trained eyes. Really makes me wonder what sort of preflight was done.

Makes me wonder, also, what was said between them as that takeoff started... did both of them not realize what was wrong?

But whatever... it's between the two of them; I hope they've made their peace, I hope Tony continues to improve, and I certainly hope Jay has learned his lesson.