Canadian Snowbird pilot killed (Merged)

[Craven Moorhed]

Terrible news that during a practice show in Montana, one of the CF Snowbirds has crashed, the pilot did not survive.

RIP

Another top chap lost; i'll have a cold beer with you when we meet again..........

[havoc]

No reals details on the local news as of yet, it appears to have happened at 4pm local. Plane was said not to pull out of a dive.


http://montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=6538466

[767-300ER]

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.

[Left Coaster]

Just read it too. Of course all condolences to his family, squadron and friends. As a proud Canuck, I always feel a sense of serious patriotism when I watch these guys fly. They epitomise the calm cool and very good pilots in the CF...keep em flying, no bleeding hearts about they need to stop killing airshow teams. The world expects these shows and respects the team.
Lefty

[HUDcripple]

From the CFpilots.ca website, chat has the aircraft involved as Snowbird #2.
Our sincere condolences to the team, their families, and everyone at 15 Wing Moose Jaw. :(
HC
http://www.snowbirds.forces.gc.ca/site/index_e.asp

[Joker's Wild]

Amen LC, a top bunch of guys and gals, doing what they love.
CBC News now reporting the name of the pilot, Capt. Shawn McCaughey, Snowbird No. 2, Inner Right Wing.
Read the story here: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/05/18/snowbirds-report.html
The team was practicing for their first show of the season as well, the squadron must feel gutted. My sincerest condolences to all.
RIP

[Craven Moorhed]

Fellow pilots,

Its now allowed for public knowledge that it was Snowbird 2 who went to meet his maker this pm.
The wake in the bar was awesome; free booze from the PMC and then smashing of the shot glass in the fireplace.
Good to see some traditions still exist......

Please take a moment to think of his Fiancee; they were to be married on June 9th, just 3 weeks away.

Diary entry for today : BuGGER..

ps: any RAFAT guys who may read this (or happen to know Red 1 or 9 or the adminers), please PM me as I have a question re his memorial/funeral.

[Clockwork Mouse]

CM
I have sent you an email. Sincere condolences.
CM

[TheShadow]

tinyurl.com/35dj2z
.
It's never as easy as shown above when you get a loose article upon going inverted. The shock can be disabling (speaking as someone who had a radio fall out of a rack during a slow roll at 300ft agl). I always made a point of pushing -2.0 at height before a LL aeros display.
.
"He said they were an inverted pass formation, which McCaughey might have been rolling out of because he was unhappy with it." (statement of the witness who video'd the ten minutes of Snowbirds display leading up to the accident).

[pointer41]

The Snowbirds are of the best, and my condolences to the family and friends. Also to the team, who defines professional precision flying, including pilots and technical/support staff, our thoughts are with you all.

[PPRuNeUser0211]

Thoughts and prayers with the team and their families, and all those at the jaw.

[Craven Moorhed]

The funeral for Capt Shawn McCaughey was held today at 1pm.

Great work from RAFAT to provide a wreath/letter of condolence to such a top chap.
Top 'missing man' fly-by from 5 CF-18's.

With 2 weeks to go to his wedding, his widow really appreciated the thoughts from The Royal Air Force today...

Well done the Reds, and God speed to Shawn

RIP Snowbird 2 !

[saudipc-9]

A very nice and moving service. I thought it was also nice that 2 Danish (I think) F-16s came down from CYOD for a flypast.
Good bye Shawn

[alph2z]

Seatbelt came undone before Snowbird crash

Updated Mon. Aug. 20 2007 9:35 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

A report into the fatal crash of a jet from the Snowbirds aerobatic squadron says the pilot lost control of his plane when his seatbelt became unfastened.

Capt. Shawn McCaughey was killed May 18 during an air show practice at Malmstrom Air Force Base near Great Falls, Mont.

The interim investigator's report says McCaughey was flying upside down during a pre-show practice session when his seatbelt came unfastened, he fell out of his seat and lost control of his Tutor jet.

"What we're talking about is an interference between a component that leads from the parachute to the seatbelt buckle," said Air Force Col. Christopher Shelley, director of flight safety, speaking with CTV's Jill Macyshon from Air Force headquarters in Ottawa. "That component seemed to interfere with the locking mechanism of the seatbelt." .......

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070820/snowbirds_seatbelt_070820/20070820?hub=CTVNewsAt11
.

[MarkD]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070820.wsnowbird21/BNStory/National/home