ShadetreeRet
Well-known Member
Garry, in answer to your question, I heard the name Charlie Ballentine, but never met him. The pilot I was referring to was indeed Wendell Trogdon. The spray plane he flew had a larger engine than a regular Piper and obviously had a longer stroke, because it hit a mean lick. We lived about five or six miles apart as "the crow flies". Our house sat on a knoll, surrounded by large oak trees, and a long hollow behind. Wendell would come up that hollow just below tree top level and at the last minute turn to the right to miss the trees. I never met him personally, but waved at him a lot, and he would always tip a wing to acknowledge. Kinda strange that he survived his younger days of being a daredevil pilot, went on to a commercial career and then to check out in such a tragic way. I never did hear the results of the investigation as to what may have caused it.
