As I was flying my route over Wright Patterson AFB this morning, I see my friend's Wright Flier stuck in the ground like a lawn dart. I knew he was down there getting ready for a big event Friday. He is hurt badly. He is still in surgery and has spine damage. Please pray for him.

I'm very sorry to see that PG...he will be in our prayers tonight-

I met Mark at the New Holstein SuperCub flyin during Airventure this year. He is a remarkable guy. Even the engine was built from scratch by his 2 hands, the only exception being the pistons. Pray for him please.
http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/video/WDTN_Wrig ... er_crashes

A prayer for him and his family....

In my prayers, I hope he's comes out okay in the end.

Damn, this is terrible. Never the outcome you want to see for an obviously very high risk flight.

Best of luck to Mark on a full recovery.

Praying for Mark and his family......

I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Mark yet, but I sure hope he's okay.

ASW.

Any news on Mark?

Last update I've had on Mark. Frank Price who has helped fly the 05 Flyer many times just happen to be in the area yesterday morning at 9:30 AM so he went in to see Mark. He said that he was on a ventilator, face was scratched up. That he opened his eyes for a second but was very doped up obviously. Lots of tubes and wires coming out of him. His back was broken in two places and that is now screwed and pinned together.

in here are some time lapsed pictures of the crash. They don't appear in order though. I one you see two paramedics working between the wings. Several others show the fole in the wing they cut to carry Mark out of.
http://www.journal-news.com/news/hamilt ... 26730.html

I don't believe I have met Mark either but my prayers go out to him. When I first heard of this accident I cringed. I went under a semi-trailer many years ago (24 yrs. ago) and as a result, broke two vertbra in my back (among LOTS of other things) nearly a two year recovery with two long steel rods inserted, one on each side of my spine and the fusion of most of my back. Hopefully with the newer technology in medicine he can be repaired much better than the old way they used for me.
My thoughts and prayers go out to him and hope for a speedy recovery that allows him to return to flying.
Keith

I hope your buddy Mark pulls through!! I know what your going through right now!! (I have a friend that had a bad crash on his dirt bike last week and not sure if he'll be able to walk again )

Terrible news. My prayers go out to Mark for a quick and full recovery.

Sorry to hear of this. Prayers have been said for Mark.

Latest update on Mark Dusenberry (Wright Flyer crash).

He sat up twice today. I guess that’s a first time, and a good sign. He has feeling down to his belly button. Nothing lower, so that’s not good.

Anyway, for those of you who met him at New Holstein, and would like to send him a card, here is the address. I know he would appreciate cards, even if you didn’t get to meet him. He is a guy who loves aviation.

Mark Dusenberry Rm. 4453
Miami Valley Hospital
One Wyoming St.
Dayton, OH 45409

Yesterday, the “Park Service” delivered his Wright Flyer back to his home, along with his car and the launch tower trailer. A bunch of us were there to help unload. It went to Dayton on a semi trailer. Bringing it back, the entire plane was stuffed into an enclosed U Haul type trailer like cord wood. I felt sick. The bastards cut it up in small pieces and said “here”.

patrol guy wrote:Bringing it back, the entire plane was stuffed into an enclosed U Haul type trailer like cord wood. I felt sick. The bastards cut it up in small pieces and said “here”.

That right there is the definition of adding insult to injury.

Thanks for keeping us up to date. I was wondering about him today.

A spinal injury that low doesn't end a flying career. There are a lot of adaptive pilots out there flying these days. A good buddy of mine has been in a wheelchair for the last 8 years after a car accident compression-sheared his spine in half, and I always keep my eye out for adaptations that allow people who don't have the use of their legs to operate rudder. The Jessica Cox story in particular is very inspiring.

I hope Mark has a good group of people around him to help keep his spirits up.

This is the latest update for Mark Dusenberry since his crash, sent from Terry Henry. jg

Thanks Much for asking. I get a lot of emails and calls. Everyone cares. As you know Mark is extremely private. He has requested no visitors at this time, no cards, no flowers. Its a very emotional time for him. He doesn't want to pick up any kind of virus. If someone coughs and enters his room they are dispatched.

He is very centered on his situation and clearly is trying to develop a new independence. And is learning how to control his body with upper arm strength, as he currently has no feeling in his chest and belly button area. His sister Lori has relayed this info to me today 10-29-09 (11:00AM) I will try and share here everything I know at this time. John and Deb Graham have been a real blessing according to him although I believe neither has actually seen him. Deb dropped off a lap top at Dayton for him and other items in Cleveland that he can use his upper body with.

Although he doesn't know it, his sister Lori has started and account for him to help defray some of his medical expenses. Please send all cards or contributions to: Mark Dusenberry, c/o Lori Golec-Judy, 121 E. 13th St., Dover, OH 44622. Checks should be made out to: The Citizens Bank for Mark Dusenberry and mailed to her address. She has literally not left his side since this happened. Going home one day a week normally. She tells me they are learning daily about these kind of injuries and what and where help can be found. She has talked to a two star general with the Air Force that couldn't use either of his legs but did have some movement in his toes. He is now walking.

She says the spinal cord generally heals at about 1/2 and inch per month. She listed all his broken and/or fractured bones of which are too many to mention. But believe me there were a lot.

On the positive side Mark is already thinking in terms of and Ercoupe airplane for now having gone into great detail with Lori on how they work with no rudder pedals. I hope I have relayed everything she has told me accurately. Your prayers for him will always be appreciated. I told her I knew of two prayer chains in New Phila, One in Massillon, one in Florida and one in California for him. Terry Henry