Old Rhinebeck Crash

[Dale O. Beethe]

Do we know yet what caused the crash of the Fokker D-VIII at Old Rhinebeck Airdrome?  Sad that the pilot was killed and a really nice aircraft is gone.

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

I haven't heard any new details.

Fokker D VIII, rotary engine from 1994 (new-old parts?), built by Coughlin himself, I believe.

Engine trouble, fire, crash.

I imagine it was on takeoff, but none of the coverage says that explicitly.

[James Champion]

What I was able to find. Reproduction built in 1994. Plane was in a landing phase. Possible engine failure and crashed in woods.

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

Using the Internet Archive, April, 2024, I retrieved this information about the D-VIII:

"This is the second of four Fokker E.V/D.VIIIs that were built by Aerodrome pilot: Brian Coughlin. He has flown this aircraft in our shows since 1994. Its distinctive lozenge fabric and markings represent the earlier E.V version that flew with Jagdsta 6 in July-August of 1918. Powered with an original WW1 160 HP Gnome rotary engine, the E.V/D.VIII delivers a dramatic aerial performance in our Sunday airshows!"