A life's (fatal) lesson on how NOT to maintain magnetos

WymanV said

There were instances of crews with the 8th AAF who loaded up so much ammo for a mission it upset the aircraft's CG causing the plane to crash on takeoff. Pilots learned to keep a pretty close eye on that, particularly as missions went deeper into Germany.

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Yep! Weight and balance is critical...Way back when...I arrived at the North Perry Airport in Miramar, FL for a flying lesson. My instructor was no where to be found. After seeing all of the commotion and people walking around out in the middle intersection of the "wagon wheel" runways, did I realizes that a plane had crashed. My instructor was out there helping with the mess. A family from up North were on vacation in Ft. Lauderdale. They flew in a V-tail Bonanza. The plane (upon departure) pitched up, stalled and augured in. Killed everyone. The family had loaded the baggage compartment with coconuts, to take back to friends. A LOT of coconuts! They were laying all over the place. (Circa 1964) It was a "real life lesson" on the importance of loading an aircraft properly.