Pilot dies when World War II-vintage plane crashes in Columbia

Associated Press
11/11/2002

COLUMBIA — A World War II-era fighter taking part in an airshow here crashed Sunday afternoon near Owens Field, killing the pilot.

The F4U Corsair came down about 1 p.m. in some woods in southeast Columbia, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said. The Anderson City Fire Department Technical Rescue Team and the Anderson County Sheriff's Office Aviation Group were participating in the festival, and assisted with the emergency response.

The pilot was Joseph O. Tobul, 68, of Santee, the coroner said.

Witnesses said the plane was flying in formation with other aircraft when smoke began to trail from the fighter.

Mr. Tobul's son was one of those flying nearby and he was in communication with his father, Mr. Watts said. Radio communication indicated Mr. Tobul's plane lost power, the coroner said.

"He basically veered away from the homes," Mr. Watts said. "There's no question that he flew into the tree line when he crashed."

The plane came down only about 75 feet from some homes, none of which sustained damage, Mr. Watts said. No one else was injured, he said.

"He certainly averted a much larger disaster," Mr. Watts said.

The Celebrate Freedom Festival started Friday and concluded Sunday. The program also included military vehicles, a living history encampment, a World War II Army field hospital, and flight simulators.

The Anderson group had just begun a lunch break when the Corsair began trailing smoke, said Brian Black, the technical rescue group leader.

"We thought it might have been part of the show," he said.

But, they soon heard about the crash and answered a call for help.

The technical rescue group members rappelled to the crash scene from their helicopter and were the first officials at the site. The group first asked some of the local residents who had gathered to call 911 and inform emergency medical workers of exactly where the plane had gone down, Mr. Black said.

A fire was burning at the crash site, so the Anderson group searched the surrounding area for the pilot. The team members found only wreckage and then assisted other authorities as needed, Mr. Black said.

The Anderson aviation group took part in the search from their helicopter, he said.

Members of the Anderson group had spoken with Mr. Tobul roughly three hours before the crash.

"He was a great guy," Mr. Black said. "He told us that plane itself had flown 200 missions in Korea (the Korean War)."

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.

An autopsy was planned Monday morning, Mr. Watts said.

Independent-Mail reporter Alison Glass contributed to this report