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Pilot Killed in Iowa Air Show Crash as Horrified Crowd Watches

Pilot Killed in Iowa Quad City Air Show Crash as Horrified Crowd Watches

A pilot was killed Saturday during an air show crash in Davenport, Iowa, sending a huge fireball toward the sky as a crowd watched. (Image source: Quad-City Times)

An air show pilot was killed Saturday during a performance in Davenport, Iowa when he failed to pull out of a 45-degree bank and crashed into a field as a horrified crowd watched.

The Quad-City Times reported the pilot had been flying in formation with two other retired military jets as part of the annual Quad-City Air Show when his plane went directly into the ground.

“He never had an opportunity to come out of it,” Assistant Davenport Police Chief Don Schaeffer said at a news conference.

The pilot, part of the Hoppers Flight Jet Team, was not immediately identified, but Schaeffer said he was not from Davenport. No one else was aboard the plane.

Nobody on the ground was hurt, but thousands of spectators saw a huge fireball go up from the site of the crash.

Investigators planned to comb the field for wreckage, which Schaeffer estimated was strewn over an area up to 220 yards.

Comments (51)

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  • LB
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 3:57pm

    So sad. RIP Sir……now has someone checked to see if a drone was flying above them?

    Report Post » LB  
  • SuttonShimai
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 2:57pm

    My son was at that air show yesterday and he immediately texted me to say that a jet had just crashed. I turned on the local news, but it was a half hour before the news alert ticker across the bottom of the screen started telling people about the crash. The two rear planes were supposed to cross over behind the front plane, but it’s unlikely that they hit each other. The other two planes landed safely right in front of my son and he said they were immediately swarmed by emergency personnel wanting to know what happened. My son’s guess is that the pilot might have blacked out for some reason, but everybody is still speculating at this point.

    Report Post »  
    • Skrewedretiree
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 8:09pm

      It may have been that the “retired” jet suffered engine failure after crossing the other jet’s exhaust blast, causing a flameout and a fatal stall and crash. Remember what happened in “Top Gun”? Could be the same scenario, from what I saw of the video.

      Report Post » Skrewedretiree  
    • Virgil_Lance
      Posted on September 3, 2012 at 2:49am

      Prayers for the deceased pilot and his family. It was obviously some kind of impact; either with the lead jet or close impact with the lead jet’s wash. At the beginning of the video you could see that the deceased pilot was closer to the lead jet than the other pilot was. At 12 seconds you can see him start to veer towards the lead jet, at 14 seconds you hear the crowd gasp, at 15 seconds you hear a woman cry “oh my God” as the two vapor trails converge, next the jet appears to be flung to starboard, then at 22 seconds the jet impacts the ground. The problem didn’t occur during those 7 seconds, it occurred when that woman yelled “oh my God”.

      Report Post » Virgil_Lance  
    • dadadadio
      Posted on September 3, 2012 at 9:15am

      I dunno, sure looks like they collided to me.

      Report Post » dadadadio  
  • Crazy-Horse
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 2:51pm

    Goodbye fellow aviator. Prayers to your Family.

    Maintain thy airspeed least the ground arise and smite thee.
    So says Silas; The Sagacious Sage from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

    Report Post » Crazy-Horse  
    • Avi8or
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 8:23pm

      The two worst days of a pilot‘s life are the day he goes to the airport knowing it’s going to be his last flight, and the day he goes to the airport not knowing it’s going to be his last flight.

      Thoughts and pryers go out to you and your family. The entire aviation community shares in grief.

      Report Post » Avi8or  
  • bjorn-free
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 2:38pm

    We lost a CH-47C (super C model) on take off as th3 #1 slung the compressor turbine blades(as we later investigated) the crew safely escaped ….. but you never forget and when a life is lost it wrenches your gut….God have mercy and console his family……

    Report Post »  
  • TexBork
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 2:16pm

    As a former Navy bomber squadron member, I can say that we always enjoyed watching our planes perform at strike or airshows, but anytime we lost people on any mission it was a tragedy. Every once and a while, there’s be a plane bent up or destroyed, but rarely did we lose life and that was what was tough. You could fix or replace the aircraft, but not so with the people, be it pilots, bombardiers, nor anyone else. Things happen and every deployment we lost people, on base or at sea.

    Report Post » TexBork  
  • MarkInSavannah
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 2:14pm

    Judging from the close proximity to the sets of trailing smoke at the time the aircraft made its sudden turn to the ground, I think it very likely this aircraft and one of the other two, may have inadvertently made contact, possibly destroying one or more of the control surfaces on the aircraft. I hate watching these videos.

    Report Post » MarkInSavannah  
  • C. Schwehr
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 1:58pm

    The type of aircraft wasn’t mentioned, but it appeared to be an L-29 Albatross which is an old 50′s era Warsaw Pact jet trainer. There have been several accidents involving this type of aircraft in the last several years and it looks like these planes need to be taken out of service…non-flying museum pieces at best. It also looks like the pilot either collided with one of the other aircraft or he lost complete control due to a malfunction, or pilot error…RIP.

    Report Post »  
    • corbecket
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 4:34pm

      You mentioned three reasons it “might” have happened. Only one has any possibility of justifying that the aircraft model be grounded.

      Consider,

      “Against stupidity the very gods
      Themselves contend in vain.”
      Friedrich Schiller

      Report Post » corbecket  
  • ImMadAsHell
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 1:35pm

    My Bad, God Bless

    Report Post »  
  • ImMadAsHell
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 1:35pm

    Bod Bless their families and all who witnessed this horrible event., Its a shame

    Report Post »  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 1:34pm

    George Bush caused this.

    Report Post »  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 1:33pm

    I was at an air show many years ago in Milwaukee when a Harrier jump jet was hovering in front of a crowd being held back by a skimpy wood and wire snow fence. We had taken my young nephews to the show. Miraculously the pilot ejected just before the jet hit the tarmac and erupted into a fire ball.
    He was injured but he lived. What I’ll never forget is, as we ran away from the fence & fireball with the young kids in tow, morons were running toward the fence. I’ll never forget their stupidity.

    Report Post »  
  • nocomment
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 1:01pm

    Yes, terrible, tragic, sad for his family. And definitely part of the risk in flying.

    Having said that… 10 people were shot in Oakland last week (three of them children), and four so far this week. The lying ‘Progressive Press’ barely give it a mention (a couple of paragraphs and couple of minutes on the boob tube). They don’t want you to see the failure of their Progressive/Liberal policies.

    Report Post »  
    • nocomment
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 1:05pm

      What does that have to do with an air crash?

      Nothing… but said it anyway.

      Report Post »  
    • aggiebrewer
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 2:20pm

      Did you see the elephant at the zoo playing with the tie nocomment? That has about as much to do with this air show story as your post. No comment…should be your policy, not your name…doofus

      Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 12:37pm

    …
    Listen to the woman at the 38 second point saying, “you have it on video”.
    Then at the one minute mark, a woman says, “okay Chris, stop crying (or whining)”.
    A person just tragically died seconds ago, right before their eyes, and this is their reaction.

    I teared up over the loss of life, just watching the video. I would have reacted even more compassionate, had I been there in person. It‘s heartbreaking to think of the sadness the pilot’s loved ones are going through.

    Human beings have become so desensitized. This should greatly concern us all.
    God bless those on the video, who were shocked, horrified, and cried. Those who called out to God, in time of need. They reacted in a normal humane way.

    Report Post »  
    • jcldwl
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 12:54pm

      Listen closer. She says “okay Chris stop flying” obviously she sees this as a reason for a friend or family member to stop flying.

      Report Post » jcldwl  
    • Rick16803
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 1:40pm

      I wonder if she would stop driving everytime she passes a car wreck on the way to work too

      Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 12:04pm

    …
    This pilot died doing what he loved. Rest in Peace.
    Thank God, no one else was injured or killed.

    Report Post »  
    • corbecket
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 4:26pm

      “This pilot died doing what he loved.”

      Gosh! I’m a retired airline pilot. Do you think I missed my calling, by not doing the same thing with a load of passengers?

      Someone got killed in a plane, perhaps needlessly. Rationalization of death, based on whether he was enjoying himself at the time, is….odd.

      Report Post » corbecket  
    • holy ghostbuster
      Posted on September 3, 2012 at 8:03am

      I agree. That’s like saying about the police officer who was shot and killed, “that policeman died what he loved doing.” How stupid.

      Report Post » holy ghostbuster  
  • COFemale
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 11:55am

    God rest his soul. It is hard to tell if it was due to mechanical failure or if he experienced medical issues. It appeared as if the three planes came close together near the end. They blend into the sky too much to tell.

    Report Post » COFemale  
  • redbanshee157
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 11:36am

    Just as fun as sitting out in a missle testing range.

    Report Post » redbanshee157  
  • truelife
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 11:20am

    wow, @ the composure of the announcer… way to keep cool.

    Report Post »  
  • Ironmaan
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 10:59am

    Wow, how surprising. I’ve never heard of this happening at an air show before. I mean really. When does this NOT happen at an air show?

    Report Post »  
    • myptofvu
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 11:28am

      I blame that Newton guy and all his “Gravity” propaganda.

      Report Post »  
  • schroeder123
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 10:50am

    100,000 die in auto accidents every year. Something to think about.

    Report Post » schroeder123  
  • chips1
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 10:37am

    As horrible as it was, it doesn’t compare to a Friday night in Chicago.

    Report Post »  
  • TJexcite
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 10:36am

    “I am sick of the idea that being a pilot is risky. No! …Being poor is what is risky!” /MSNBS

    A pilot that to had to work hard every day and then when one thing wrong with the work and aircraft, it cost him his life. And then touch the hand of God.

    Report Post » TJexcite  
  • mikey73
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 10:22am

    The only reason my 15 year old son and i did not go was because of the weather. wonder if the weather played a part, the remnants of hurricane Isaac was here and it looked like from the video that the plane got blown into the other plane. i am suprised they cleared the air show at all. Our prayers are with this brave pilot and his family and all of the spectators who witnessed this tradgedy.

    Report Post »  
  • Mil-Dot
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 10:01am

    When you are called upstairs, you gotta’ go. RIP brother.

    Report Post »  
  • Seneca264
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 9:48am

    I feel that an old aviation adage that I susbribe to is in order here: There are old pilots and bold pilots but there are no old bold pilots. My father drummed this into my head when I was learning to fly and I never forgot it.

    Report Post » Seneca264  
    • trolltrainer
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 9:58am

      He died doing what he loved, there are worse ways to go…

      Report Post »  
    • Seneca264
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 10:08am

      You don’t know what the pilot “loved” and it is entirely presumptuous of you to make such a stupid comment. I would wager that that the pilot loved life more than flying.

      Report Post » Seneca264  
    • holy ghostbuster
      Posted on September 3, 2012 at 8:10am

      @ Trolltrainer – Again, another ignorant comment. “There are worse ways to go” and “he died doing what he loved?” You can’t rationalized death. It just happens. Have you ever pulled dismembered and charred body parts from an airplane wreckage? I have, and can think of better ways to go. When a policeman or military serviceman gets shot and killed, do you say he died doing what he loved? I doubt it.

      Report Post » holy ghostbuster  
  • THORNZ
    Posted on September 2, 2012 at 9:41am

    My whole family witnessed this yesterday, what a terrible accident. It is always hard to explain an event like this to a 12 and 9 yr. old and why things happen! Our prayers are with him and his family! We were at the closest tent to the accident and what a surreal moment for us all…..not alot of people due to the weather and thankful it did not hurt anyone on the ground, the crash was very close to a busy freeway and industrial park.

    Report Post » THORNZ  
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