Horror stories

[3Dreaming]

After reading theT-craft on Ebay thread it reminded me of an experience I had helping some friends. This happened back in the 90's. The son of the guy who owned the FBO I have now was interested in doing a clip wing T-Craft. I was working for them at the time. A T-craft project was listed in Trade a Plane, and it sounded to be just what was needed. A phone call was made to the individual, and I ask for some details on the airframe. I was told there was some light damage to a longeron from contact with a pole during taxi. He had lost his hanger, and the airplane was stored at his father's house. Everything sounded good so a deposit was sent to the fellow in Florida. The airplane was at his father's house in Maine, and he would be going up there in a few weeks. We made plans to meet him there, and set out from southern Illinois with a enclosed trailer in tow. It is a long drive to Maine from here. After 2 days of driving we arrived at the house where the airplane was "stored". Sitting in the yard was a twisted frame of a airplane. The tail was being held on by 2 pieces of aluminum angle held in place with rusty vice grips. The wings were laying on the ground with no covering half covered by a plastic tarp, leaves piled all around, and did I mention It was raining. The cowling was crushed and wrinkled. The struts were bent. this airplane was pure junk. We went to the house and spoke with the father. He knew nothing about the airplane. The guy had not shown up as we had agreed on, and we could not get a hold of him. We left and drove home empty handed, and they never did get the deposit back. After repeated attempts to call the guy, and a letter from their lawyer they gave up on ever getting the deposit back.
Like I said the Ebay airplane reminded me of this story. I have an other story I will type in some time. Lets also hear some stories from some of you. Tom