Posted on 07/28/2007 12:26:38 PM PDT by trussell
Wahpeton man killed after planes collide at air show Kim Winnegge, The Forum Published Saturday, July 28, 2007
A Wahpeton, N.D., man died Friday after performing in a Wisconsin air show.
Gerald Beck, 58, died after the plane he was flying collided with one flown by Casey Odegaard, 24, of Kindred.
The men each were flying P-51 Mustangs, single-seat fighters used during World War II, at the experimental air show in Osh Kosh, Wis., officials said.
Dick Knapinski, Experimental Aircraft Association spokesman, identified the deceased pilot as Beck. He said Odegaard was able to climb out of his plane after the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the collision with the two P-51 Mustangs happened at 3:17 p.m. after the planes finished a performance at the annual EAA AirVenture show.
RELATED CONTENT Kim Winnegge Archive FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board investigators were on the scene Friday.
NTSB spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz said the accident occurred when the planes clipped wings on landing. He said an NTSB investigator on the scene scheduled a news briefing for 4 p.m. today at the Wittman Regional Airport terminal.
On Monday, a veteran pilot trying to break a speed record en route to Oshkosh was killed when his small, experimental plane crashed into an apartment building and playground in Switzerland.
The pilot, identified as Hans Georg Schmid, a former Swissair pilot, had been trying to break a world record for a solo single-engine flight. He had planned to fly more than 4,970 miles with a C1-D class of plane, aiming to reach his destination in 30 hours.
The annual convention is considered one of the world's largest gatherings of recreational aviators. It draws more than 600,000 people and 10,000 planes from around the world. The weeklong event ends Sunday.
Read more Sunday in The Forum.
ping
I hate it when this happens, it’s so sad.
I knew both the pilots in this incident, and I don't think the VALUE of their aircraft was on anyone's mind at the time.
Blue skies, Gerry. You will be missed.
.
The Dayton (OH) Vectren Air Show just began this weekend and a stunt plane is reported to have crashed there around 2:30 this afternoon. Please pray for all those involved.
God take care of Gerald.
I agree CD. It’s very sad.
Hope their family takes comfort that a loved one died doing something they loved.
Jim LeRoy, BullDog Airshows.
He has been medivac to the local hospital.
No word on condition.
Another good friend.
I’m going to hide in the closet for a few hours.
I wasn’t trying to be unsympathetic a_d. Just making a comment.
Sorry for the loss you are feeling with the death of your friend.
Is there a picture of Gerald available?
I was a patron of the air show every year for ten years and lived in Oshkosh for 1 year and STILL haven't experienced in total what the show has to offer.
One of the worlds biggest?
THE BIGGEST! (period)
Two planes collide while landing during the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture show.
One pilot died and the other suffered minor injuries after the planes clipped wings.
Rest in Peace
Gerald Beck
My prayers go up for all who now mourn the passing of Gerald.
Blessings,
trussell
If you want on/off my prayer ping list, please let me know. All requests happily honored.
I join in your prayer!
Of course not ad, however both pilots passed while doing something they loved to do and the venerable Mustang was part of it.
trussell meant no disrespect I'm sure and posted only to honor the passing of the demised pilot.
Cut some slack for the poster my FRiend.
Trussell, thank you for the information from the air show.
It looks like the tail of one, not the wing. I would guess from the stills it was prop to tail.
Thank you EGPWS. You are correct that I meant no disrespect.
That's what it looked like to me too...but I just posted what the article said.
The second pilot is hospitalized - but okay.
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