The only remaining airworthy Douglas A-20 Havoc (N747HS) crash-landed during an airshow in Texas on Sunday, injuring the pilot.
During the WBCA Stars & Stripes Air Show Spectacular on Sunday afternoon at the Laredo International Airport (LRD) in Laredo, Texas, the last flying A-20 was forced to make an emergency landing. The FAA said the A-20 crashed on the departure end of the runway.
WBCA Laredo said that the highly experienced and well-respected warbird pilot, Stewart Dawson, had completed his performance and was heading home when he noticed something was wrong with the plane. He made the swift decision to return to LRD and make an emergency landing, with emergency personnel standing by. Lewis Air Legends, which owns the plane, said that because of Dawson’s quick actions, there were no casualties. Dawson was taken to the hospital and in stable condition.
Video showed the crash landing and post-crash fire. The Laredo Police Department closed Jacaman Rd/Bartlett due to the fire, reopening them to the public about an hour later. The airshow was put on hold but resumed later that afternoon.
The A-20 Havoc was the Army Air Force’s most-produced army attack aircraft during World War II. The plane was soon replaced by newer warplanes, leaving very few left to be restored. Lewis Air Legends said N747HS is probably the only airworthy model in existence.
The light bomber and night fighter was designed in 1938 for the U.S. Army Air Corps but saw duty in the French, United Kingdom and Soviet Air Forces. The last of these aircraft were produced in 1944, with Douglas having made over 7,000 and Boeing nearly 400. More than half of the A-20 aircraft went into service in other countries. N747HS was acquired from the Lone Star Flight Museum and restored to full-stock military configuration.