Pilot killed in W.Va. air show crash

A Trojan Horsemen aircraft, T-28 Trojan Horsemen Warbird Formation Acrobatic Team, explodes into flames as it crashes during Saturday Thunder Over the Blue Ridge open house and airshow in Martinsburg. / Journal of Martinsburg-Ron Agnir

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The pilot of a post-World War II plane died Saturday after crashing into a runway and bursting into flames, the second deadly air show crash in 24 hours.

The West Virginia Air National Guard said that no spectators were injured and that the crash site was far away from anyone at the show. Still, air show officials posted a notice on their website encouraging those who witnessed the crash to seek support if they felt viewing it had been traumatic.

The crash occurred a day after a stunt pilot crashed at a Nevada air show Friday, killing nine.

Reno air crash death toll raised to 9
Witnesses describe carnage at Reno air race

"We were fortunate that the safety measures put in place by the Federal Aviation Administration ensured the safety of those on the ground," Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard, said in a statement. "Right now our thoughts and prayers are with the family members of the deceased."

Officials have not released the pilot's name. The fixed-wing, single-engine T-28 plane is registered to John Mangan of Concord, N.C., and was built in 1958, according to a Federal Aviation Administration registry.

The Journal of Martinsburg reports the aircraft lost control during a six-plane stunt formation and then crashed on a runway near hangers at the airfield, causing thousands at the show to cry, hug and pray afterward.

The plane was part of the T-28 Warbird Aerobatic Formation Demonstration Team, which performs at air shows around the country.

The team is known as the Trojan Horsemen and its website says Jack "Flash" Mangan is part of the alternate wing. His biography on the site says he is a former Air Force fighter pilot who won three Meritorious Service Medals and Tactical Air Command's Instructor Pilot of the Year.

A message left at Mangan's North Carolina home was not immediately returned on Saturday.

According to The Boeing Co.'s website, the North American T-28 Trojan was a basic trainer that was used by the U.S Navy, including for carrier operation. Its first flight was in 1949 and it was designed to transition pilots to jet aircraft.

[smoki65]

It's not that "aerodynamics fail" as one poster put it but that pilot's will sometimes under the duress of maximum performance air show demonstrations fail to compensate for approaching and exceeding aerodynamic limits.

Air shows as in air races much of the time are operated on the edge of the envelope of aerodynamic performance and stability. Consequently if the envelope is exceeded the airplane can experience loss of control due to all or part of the airfoil (the wing) losing lift caused by an aerodynamic stall. Under load (more than 1G) during a turn the airplane can snap roll out of control momentarily and if that occurs close to the ground there's not much time or altitude to recover which can lead to ground impact and a fatal crash. Whether that happened in this case or in the Reno air race crash remains to be determined, if at all.

In any case the airplanes are well maintained by the professionals who operate them and they better than anyone know all too well the consequences if they or their machines are not fully airworthy.

Contrary to one post, the T-28 was never to my knowledge used by the Navy to transition to jets rather to rotary wing flying machines, i.e. helicopters. Having flown it myself, I can speak to its ruggedness, dependability and to its having a rare "rudder locked" spin characteristic.

[capsman727]

Yeah, one helluva show huh?

We got old men flying old aircraft trying to recreate their relevance in life, who'd a thought something tragic would happen?

[soldiers_wife]

I was at this air show and witnessed the accident. And it was just that, an accident. It's very sad and unfortunate, but the event was for a good cause, which was raising money for the United Way. The pilot died doing something he loved. He knew the risk during this demonstration and the other hundreds of times he and his team performed this stunt. Unlike the event in Reno, we were a very safe distance from the planes at all times. I never felt that I was in danger before, during or after the accident.
This stunt was meant to be a salute to the veterans and they had all the military members and their families stand up and raise our hands before the performance. Very sad.
My condolences to his family, Mr. Mangan was a true American Hero.

[flynrider]

Fatesrider, your are mistaken. If you happen to see a WWII aircraft at your local airport, chances are very good that it is NOT a reproduction. Hundreds of groups and individuals maintain and fly these aircraft on a regular basis. A well maintained 60 yr. old aircraft is as airworthy as a new one.

[Transatlantique]

Again, this is natural selection at its finest.

[anOPINIONATEDsob]

The T-28 was used in Viet Nam for close air support. I flew top cover for many of their missions in my F-4. I don't believe the 28 was used in Korea unless it replaced the F-4U near the end of combat. The 28 was designed well after the WWII era. Sorry to have lost so many at the events we attend because of our common interests in aviation and hope the families Know we are thinking of them and grieving with them as well.

[Fatesrider]

Point of clarification. The crash in Reno that killed 9 wasn't an air show. It was an air race. An inherently more dangerous sport.

Air shows are usually accompanied by some acrobatics or flight demonstrations, but those are usually carried out by well trained professionals in well maintained aircraft.

Still, sometimes planes crash. Gravity works and aerodynamics can fail. It happens to major airliners and small craft all the time. No one seriously expects people to stop flying because of those. Why is this any different.

Condolences to the family of the pilot.

[erichsh]

Good point.

[j_flood]

And may I add that Jimmy Leeward was acting a racer - not as a 'stunt' pilot. Another example of "cut and paste" journalism.

[m0u5y]

You know how many deaths it would take to stop something that makes money and people willingly consume? Look at cigarettes. They're still being sold even though they have killed a great number of people. The moral of the story is that unless your spouse, child or parent gets killed by something, you don't think it should be illegal. Oh well, population control, right?

[Diaa22]

Too many coincidences.

[notyrants]

A WWII era plane built in 1958... ?

[SJames6621]

prob rebuilt. Quite a few wealthy people have these things. Fuel consumption can easily cost $500 per hour.

[Fatesrider]

Most "WW II Era" aircraft are reproductions. Some are originals, but don't fly. Those that are original and fly have been rebuilt from the frames out and don't race.