Flagler County Airshow ends with tragic accident

[flav8r]

We all know and understand the inherent dangers that come with aerobatic flying but it's still hard to accept any loses.

Yesterday at the Flagler County Airshow known as "Wings Over Flagler" we lost a great showman while performing his routine.

William "Wild Bill" Walker will be missed.

Condolences go out to his friends and family.

Newspaper Article

 

[flyersfan31]

I read about it on CNN.com. Not that I gleaned any useful information -- CNN claimed it exploded in a fireball (do airplanes explode in anything other than fireballs?? Seems not, if I go by journalists), but no mention of inflight, on impact, or whatever.

I hate seeing vid of those crashes. The pilots are having the time of their lives, getting a thrill out of performing aerobatics, then boom, something happens... Tragic.

 

[ScottM]

I read about it on CNN.com. Not that I gleaned any useful information -- CNN claimed it exploded in a fireball (do airplanes explode in anything other than fireballs??

AA flight 77 crashed in a firePentagon. Jus' saying.

 

[weilke]

For some reason amateur airshow performers who die never have the middle name/callsign 'deliberative' or 'cautious'.

I hope he took care of his family for this scenario, somehow I doubt that 'low-level acro in warbirds' is included in most life insurance policies.

RiP.

 

[zaitcev]

For some reason amateur airshow performers who die never have the middle name/callsign 'deliberative' or 'cautious'.

I was in Salinas grandstands when Wayne Handley broke his back. He said PT-6 just quit on him in critical moment.

 

[Dr. O]

First 'guess' is sudden pilot incapacitation... A pilot I happen to know about was driving along and has no memory of what happened as his truck left the highway, careened some 700 feet across a shallow ditch, a field, a parking lot, and finally hit a railroad track switcher (big pile of metal)... If it had not been for the switch he would have plowed onto an occupied building... Truck was totaled and his dog was killed... He had spinal and rib fractures... He continues to fly... Denial is a powerful emotion...

denny-o

 

[wabower]

Interesting observation, since my first guess is that he miscalculated and just flew it into the ground. But I regard all that stuff as high-risk/low-reward activity anyway. When I did acro training the guy said I could eventually qualify for a 50' waiver. I told him that it wouldn't be necessary since I wouldn't ever need the bottom 2,450' of it anyway.

First 'guess' is sudden pilot incapacitation... A pilot I happen to know about was driving along and has no memory of what happened as his truck left the highway, careened some 700 feet across a shallow ditch, a field, a parking lot, and finally hit a railroad track switcher (big pile of metal)... If it had not been for the switch he would have plowed onto an occupied building... Truck was totaled and his dog was killed... He had spinal and rib fractures... He continues to fly... Denial is a powerful emotion...

denny-o