Canadian Snowbird pilot killed
CTV.ca
Snowbird pilot dies in crash at Montana air show
Malmstrom Air Force Base emergency crews respond to the crash site of a Canadian Forces Snowbird aircraft that crashed during an airshow rehearsal on May 18, 2007, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. (AP / Great Falls Tribune, Rion Sanders)
Malmstrom Air Force Base emergency crews respond to the crash site of a Canadian Forces Snowbird aircraft that crashed during an airshow rehearsal on May 18, 2007, at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. (AP / Great Falls Tribune, Rion Sanders)
The plane went down near Malmstrom Air Force Base, in Malmstrom, Montana.
The plane went down near Malmstrom Air Force Base, in Malmstrom, Montana.
CTV.ca News Staff
Updated: Fri. May. 18 2007 8:55 PM ET
A Canadian Forces Snowbird pilot has died after his plane crashed in Malmstrom, Montana, during a rehearsal for two air shows this weekend.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the death in a statement Friday evening. It marks the sixth Snowbird pilot killed since 1972.
FAA spokesperson Allen Kenitzer said the plane was flying in formation and "for some reason shortly thereafter pitched down and crashed."
A press conference is expected in Moose Jaw, Sask. where the Snowbirds are based.
The pilot has not been identified, but Lieut. Jeff Noel, a spokesman for 15 Wing Moose Jaw, said all the members flying on Friday were team veterans.
"They did recently accept three new pilots into the program but those pilots wont be flying with the program until next year," he said.
The jet was flying in formation with five other planes from Canada's renowned aerobatics team.
According witness Greg Dart, the plane plummeted at about 4 p.m. at the south-end of the base.
"There were a number of planes flying in formation, and had they just completed a heart- shaped figure in the sky," he told CTV Newsnet.
"It looked like they were getting ready to disassemble. We saw three planes do a little loop and it almost looked like they were coming right at us. The two lead planes split, and the third plane looked like it reared up a little bit and then just plummeted straight into the ground."
Dart said he could feel the force of the impact.
The team was preparing to perform Saturday and Sunday in Great Falls, Mont. at Malmstrom's Open House and Sport Auto-Rama.
The last Snowbirds plane crash happened on Aug. 24, 2005 when Capt. Andrew Mackay lost control of his jet in a rural area west of Thunder Bay, Ont.
Mackay ejected from the jet before the crash and wasn't hurt.
The Snowbirds fly CT-114 Tutor jets, an aircraft designed in Canada and used by the team since 1971. The Canadian Forces had used the same plane for basic pilot training since 2000.
The jets have a top speed of 750 kilometres per hour with their signature smoke tanks attached, and weigh 7,170 pounds.
With files from The Canadian Press
© 2007 CTVglobemedia All Rights Reserved.