Ted Kokolis

[John D.]

Long time NCRS member, founding member of the Pittsburgh Tri-state Chapter, owner and founder of Auto -Tec Hardtop restorations, etc. lost his life yesterday in a small plane crash.

Ted was a commercial pilot when I first met him in 1979. I don't know the details of the crash except what I read in the local Sunday Tribune-Review. Ted and another pilot were killed when a twin-engine Beech Baron (brand new plane) crashed through a roof top.

Ted was one of the first in our hobbies to restore Corvette hardtops. He was also my pal and close friend. Old JD here is in a state of shock.

[Scott S.]

Re: Ted Kokolis

Ted was always a gentleman. May he rest in Peace.
Scott

[Tom H.]

Re: Ted Kokolis

Didn't know him but I sure an sorry for the loss.

[David B.]

Re: Ted Kokolis

I spoke with Ted at Carlisle last year, and he patiently showed me how to properly remove the header stainless from my hardtop. A very nice guy. Sorry to hear the news.

[Jim T.]

Re: Ted Kokolis

Sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. A powerful twin Beech loosing its ability to fly shortly after take-off, something happened.

[John D.]

Re: Ted Kokolis

Jim, Among other jobs Ted worked for FAA. It was because of his connections in the airline industry that he was able to have the plexiglass rear window reproduced for the hardtops. Now this story is old as Ted had those rear windows made about 25 years ago or so.
Meanwhile I worry about my son getting killed when he goes to the Middle East as a Marine. But poor dead died one hour from his house in a tragic plane wreck, a plane that was only in the air for less than 10 minutes.

Talking like we do here about our Corvette issues might make us wonder if the plane didn't have fuel pressure issues as it reportedly had about 300 gallons of jet fuel in the tanks. Who knows what happened with that kerosene fuel.
Too bad the plane didn't have 100LL.

[Paul H.]

Re: Ted Kokolis

John, sorry for the loss of your friend. Any time I dealt with Tom on a hardtop issue he was a wealth of knowledge and an absolute gentleman. He will be missed.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Ted Kokolis

John;

I too am sorry for the loss of your friend. News like this serves to remind us all how fragile and precious human life is. Unfortunately, as we get on in our years, news of this sort becomes more common place whether it be a tragic accident or an illness, as was the case with Charlie. It's never easy to lose someone you know and have taken for granted that they would always be there to talk to about your common interests and concerns. It's like you lose a part of yourself, a part of your world, which in some ways seems to grow smaller with each passing day.

Although I didn't know him, I too regret his loss because I would have liked to know him.

Stay strong my friend.

Stu Fox

[Joe L.]

Re: Ted Kokolis

Jim, Among other jobs Ted worked for FAA. It was because of his connections in the airline industry that he was able to have the plexiglass rear window reproduced for the hardtops. Now this story is old as Ted had those rear windows made about 25 years ago or so.
Meanwhile I worry about my son getting killed when he goes to the Middle East as a Marine. But poor dead died one hour from his house in a tragic plane wreck, a plane that was only in the air for less than 10 minutes.

Talking like we do here about our Corvette issues might make us wonder if the plane didn't have fuel pressure issues as it reportedly had about 300 gallons of jet fuel in the tanks. Who knows what happened with that kerosene fuel.
Too bad the plane didn't have 100LL.

John------


If it had jet fuel in the tanks, then we know what went wrong. A Beechcraft Baron is powered by gasoline fueled internal combustion engines (Continental TSIO-520's, I think).

[Rich G.]

Re: Ted Kokolis

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10220/1078628-59.stm

This story says it was a BE 58 Baron (as Joe L points out) which is a piston airplane and has a fuel capacity of around 150 gals at most. If it got mis fueled, it wouldn't be the first time that happened. The feds will figure that out pretty quick.

We shouldn't speculate at this point. Being a pilot and flight instuctor I have lost too many friends like this. The initial reaction is to try to figure out what could have happened because we can't imagine how a good, experienced pilot can have such terrible accident. It might take a year for the final NTSB report.

Sorry for your loss JD. He sounds like a good guy.



Rich

[Mike M.]

Re: Ted Kokolis

ted was the hardtop guru and will be missed for his hardtop expertise, as well as being a fine fella. rip.mike

[John D.]

Re: Ted Kokolis

Joe, Thanks for the good info on the fuel. The news media said the plane could hold up to 300 gallons of Jet Fuel.
So according to your info Joe then the gas powered engine would have 100LL in it. That's my personal favorite as a lot of you know.

NTSB said it would take at least 9 months to determine the cause of the crash.
Yes Ted was the hardtop guru and the first to do so.
Another guru in our hobby gone but not forgotten. WE have lost so many friends and guru's this past year.
Two fuel injection pals left us recently. My friends John Eyestone and Gail Parsons.
One thing we are sure of is that all of us are only here for a short time.

[Jerry C.]

Re: Ted Kokolis

Ted was a great guy and an important part of this great hobby. RIP