COLUMBIA, S.C. - A World War II-era fighter taking part in an airshow here crashed Sunday afternoon near Owens Field, killing the pilot.
The F4U Corsair came down about 1 p.m. in some woods in southeast Columbia, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said.
The pilot was Joseph O. Tobul, 68, of Santee, the coroner said.
Witnesses said the plane was flying in formation with other aircraft when smoke began to trail from the fighter.
Tobul's son was one of those flying nearby and he was in communication with his father, Watts said. Radio communication indicated Tobul's plane lost power, the coroner said.
"He basically veered away from the homes," Watts said. "There's no question that he flew into the tree line when he crashed."
The plane came down only about 75 feet from some homes, none of which sustained damage, Watts said. No one else was injured, he said.
"He certainly averted a much larger disaster," Watts said.
The Celebrate Freedom Festival started Friday and concluded Sunday. The program also included military vehicles, a living history encampment, a World War II Army field hospital, and flight simulators.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.
An autopsy was planned Monday morning, Watts said.
Information from: The State
I took this picture yesterday morning--this is the aircraft in question, an F4U-4 Corsair painted as flying off the USS Boxer in the Korean War:
Prayers to the pilot, his family, and to the whole warbird restoration community. That is a very tight-knit bunch.
}:-)