Small plane trying to break aviation record crashes in Switzerland; pilot dies
Basel, July. 23(AP): An attempt to break an aviation speed record went horribly wrong Monday when a small ``experimental'' plane crashed through an apartment building in the Swiss city of Basel, killing the pilot and lightly injuring six other people, authorities said.
The crash happened at 11:25 a.m. (0925 GMT), shortly after the single-engine plane took off from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, located across the border in France, authorities said. It went through the attic of an apartment building in the northwest of the city before coming to a fiery rest on a playground in a park.
The pilot was identified as Hans Georg Schmid, a former Swissair pilot who racked up more than 16,000 hours of flight experience during three decades at the former national carrier. His body was found in the park, said Klaus Mannhart, spokesman for Basel cantonal (state) police.
Schmid was trying to break a world record for a solo flight over 8,000 kilometers (4,970 miles) with a C1-D class of plane by reaching the U.S. city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 30 hours. The plane was fueled by 1,700 liters (450 gallons) of kerosine, airport spokeswoman Sabrina Walter said.
``There was a loud bang,'' said Silvia Kalman, an adult supervisor taking care of 19 children who were at the playground when the plane crashed. A jungle gym burst into flames, but none of the children were injured, she said. Hours later, the playground was still littered with debris and the plane's wreckage.
Two people who were inside the building struck by the plane and four rescue service officers suffered light injuries, police commander Werner Dietz said. Three people in total were hospitalized, but were released by Monday afternoon.
Schmid designed the plane _ called the ``Express 2000 ER'' _ and was planning later this year to use it to fly around the world twice, according to Lycoming Engines, the Williamsport, Pennsylvania-based company that built the engine.
The pilot previously has set world records circumnavigating the globe in both eastbound and westbound directions, using an earlier homemade plane he designed. His new attempts would have been northbound and southbound, crossing the North Pole and Antarctica on each trip, Lycoming says on its Web site.
The company said Schmid holds over 160 aviation world records. The new plane had a successful maiden flight last month, according to the Experimental Aviation Association of Switzerland.
Vincent Devauchelle, deputy director of the airport, said the machine suffered problems shortly after take off at 11:20 a.m. (0920 GMT). He said the Swiss Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau was looking into the accident.
Schmid's flight to Wisconsin was timed to coincide with the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture, which is promoted as the world's largest gathering of recreational aviators. Some 750,000 spectators and 10,000 planes from around the world were expected at the event, which lasts through Sunday.
Schmid's plane, which was in the 1,750-3,000 kilogram (3,850-6,600 pound) weight class, included special fuel tanks and a unique design for handling strenuous loads.
Airport officials said they did not know what record Schmid was trying to beat. There are no previous speed records over 8,000 kilometers (4,970 miles) listed on the Web site of the world's Air Sports Federation.
Schmid, 58, is survived by a wife and two sons.
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