The Quad-City Air Show in Davenport., turned tragic when one of the planes crashed into the ground, killing the pilot on board.
Onlookers watched, horrified as one of the planes in the show seemed to lose control, took a nose dive into the ground and erupted into flames. Nobody on the ground was hurt as the plane plunged into a field, but 59-year-old Glenn Smith was killed on board.
Smith left his job at a Texas technology firm to follow his dream of restorying and flying Soviet fighter jets at exhibitions across the country. At the airshow on Saturday, the crash of his 30-year-old training plane ended Smith's life.
Smith's L-39 jet was one of three planes flying in a formation during the show. He did not make any signal showing that he was in distress. Smith and the other performers practiced the routine the day before and there were no problems.
The National Transportation Safety Board is now investigating the crash. An early report may be available next week, but a final report could take several months as plane pieces and toxicology reports need to be examined.
"We don't see anything mechanical at this time but we want to make sure that we have it documented that we have everything," said Asst. Chief Don Schaeffer of the Davenport Police Department to ABC.
Each year over 12 million people attend air shows across the country. There have been 72 pilot deaths from air shows in North America since 1991, however spectator deaths are rare as planes are required to fly 500-1,500 ft away from crowds during air shows.
"There hasn't been a spectator fatality at a North American air show since 1952, and that's because of the strict rules that have been in place for nearly 60 years," said John Cudahy, president of International Council of Air Shows.
Smith was a new member of the "Hoppers," a group which maintain and fly L-39 fighter jets at air shows. Smith reportedly kept his plane in excellent condition. Smith had been a pilot for about 25 years and he had a commercial pilot's license.
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