Anyway, it’s over.
I was returning to the base while gradually lowering the altitude.
My Sanka managed to keep flying.
The engine temperature was not going down. The radiator system might also be damaged. Still, the engine was managing to keep running. Although it was unbelievably cold in the cockpit, I was in no position to complain about it, considering the condition of the engine. I mean, I can keep flying thanks to this cold air.
When the landmass started appearing in my sight, I was feeling really glad. But, the vibration of the aircraft was becoming worse and worse. The engine seemed to be getting ready to sputter and halt.
The oil temperature is abnormal. The oil pressure is dropping.
No radio communication allowed yet.
My body was chilled, and my hands were about to become numb.
I applied both hands on my mouth and face alternately. The pain in my legs faded away and there was no sensation.
Decreasing the altitude. Clouds were not so thick anymore.
The fuel was almost empty.
“Not again.” I murmured.
I might have flown for too long.
Or, is the fuel leaking from somewhere?
I leaned forward to check the main wing. The broken part of the vertical stabilizer was already gone.
Several Sankas were flying around mine. I guess that they were worrying about the status of my Sanka.
Ah, it’s cold.
I was about to lose consciousness.
I want to fall asleep, I felt.
I want to dive into that warm blanket.
I want to take a hot shower.
A lighter will just do. I wanted to light it to warm myself.
I touched the instrument panel, which was very cold.
I was fumbling about for something warm.
There cannot possibly be such a thing here.
I lowered the altitude even more.
Flying through the clouds, I sank into the dim air.
It was pure white below me. Is it snow?
For how long will I have to fly? I tried to check the current coordinate and read the map, but I could not move my fingers well.
I warmed my fingers by applying them on my mouth..
Irregular vibration.
The airframe was creaking.
Suddenly, it became quiet.
Only the sounds of the wings cutting the air remained.
The canard wings wailed like a whistle.
The glass of the canopy was also quivering.
I moved the throttle lever, but nothing happened.
I tried to use the starter motor, to no avail.
I twisted my body and looked backward.
I could see the edges of the propeller blades, which were about to stop. The starter motor was barely reacting.
I put my finger on the switch to send a mayday.
I pushed it up.
Since the speed was about to reach its limit, I descended.
I did not have time to spread the map.
I slapped the altimeter.
800?
Is it that low?
“Dead Eye? How is your condition?” I heard a voice, with noise.
“This is Dead Eye. I think the fuel has run out.” I replied. “What is down there?”
“There is no city. Avoid the trees to touch down.”
“I will if I can.”
I descended while banking gently. It was white below me.
Mountains were a bit far away, for a bit of consolation.
I was going lower and lower.
As long as I maintained the velocity, I could make a decision about what to choose from the slight variety of selections in the final phase. The altitude was 200.
I was approaching a hill.
I contemplated whether to fly over it or to go around its base.
There seemed to be no wind. The visibility was good.
There was a shack-like building to the left. A truck was parked. They were buried in the snow. Roads could not be seen anywhere.
Making a turn. I have no choice anymore.
100.
50.
Extending the landing gears.
I heard a strange sound.
The gears were not down.
How much worse is this gonna get?
Actually, on a snowy road, tires are probably useless anyway.
25.
I pitched the nose of the fuselage up.
There. Good kid.
Go ahead, and slide on it.
I could not move my legs anymore. Which side is the rudder facing?
10.
Get it up.
More.
The sight in front of me was becoming invisible.
I looked sideways.
I saw for a moment fences buried in snow.
It’s coming.
Three seconds after the projected moment, the rear part of the airframe hit something.
Impact.
The right main wing was lowered, and then it crashed.
Spinning round and round.
The sound of the impact.
My body was being shaken.
Holding my breath.
The seat belt cleft into my body.
I feel the shaking.
Whiteout.
I felt some kind of pressure like wind blown into my face.
Headphones were pulled away.
Something was pushing my body sideways.
Booming sound.
It has not stopped yet.
I was swung around many times.
Well, out of commission for good, I thought.
I mean, this aircraft.
Maybe, I myself as well.
Like a hard rock, eh?
Drums are beating.
I was thrust up from below.
I was hit from above as well.
But, it was getting slower.
I was being shaken softly.
It is about to stop.
The metal creaked, as if it was screaming.
At the end of the crash landing, the aircraft leaned sharply. I was thrown out to the side with the seat.
Something heavy had fallen onto my head.
I put my hand on it.
It stopped.
It was still shaking, though.
Still, it seemed to have stopped.
I could see nothing.
I moved my hands.
I removed the thing on my head.
Heavy.
It was aluminum of the control panel. It had been deformed completely. It was entangled with cords. I attempted to remove the belt. It was tightly constricting my body so hard. I am on pace to be strangled with the belt to death.
My fingers touched the metal clasp.
I took a breath.
Painful. But I do not feel cold now.
What are my fingers doing?
The metal clasp cannot be removed. Where is it?
My hand gave up on unbuckling the belt, and looked for my face instead.
I pulled the goggles and removed them.
Breath.
Breath.
It seemed that it was toppled over sideways.
This way is down, I suppose.
Is that from the compressor? I heard the rattling of revolving parts and hissing of leaking air.
Oh, it’s ground.
Have I come back to it again?
There is nothing I can do about it, really.
Can I use the radio communication?
But, the headphones are missing.
Where have they gone?
My hands were still trying to remove the seat belt.
My fingers hurt.
How is my left hand?
It was wet. Is it blood?
Ah, but I seem to be still alive.
I felt like listening to music.
I like slow blues.
My right hand finally removed the metal clasp. I knew it could be removed.
My body dropped toward the right side.
My face was pressed against the control panel. It was painful.
I used my right hand to manage to get my body up.
The canopy was still kept intact.
Although it could not be moved smoothly, I slid the canopy back a little.
There was snow nearby.
I could touch it, if I reached for it.
I moved the body slightly. I slipped on the canopy and dropped on the snow.
The aircraft was not just tumbled over on its side. It was inverted.
I crawled onto the snow. I recognized the Sanka turned over upside down. It was a place like a river bank. The surrounding around me was all white.
Still, it was not colder than it was in the sky.
I could not move my left hand. It might be broken.
The blood was dripping from the wound above my eye.
It was not so serious, either.
I moved away from the aircraft, little by little. I felt that there was no chance of the aircraft exploding. I looked back at it a few times. But, it remained the same. It would not fly again.
-6-