SNOWBIRD DOWN!!!!!!!!!!! 2 fatal
Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:10 pm
FROM http://www.CTV.ca
Two dead in Snowbird jet crash in Saskatchewan
Updated Thu. Oct. 9 2008 7:13 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A pilot and a military photographer died in a Snowbird jet crash at a base in Saskatchewan Thursday.
Col. Paul Keddy, commander of the Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw, said the pair were on a routine training mission.
"We've had a tragic afternoon," Keddy told reporters at a news conference. "The members of 15 Wing have come together over the last several hours to respond to this, keeping in mind the needs of the families.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the members of the families."
Keddy said the pilot and photographer were taking pictures of three other aircraft just before the crash.
The CT-114 Tutor jet, used exclusively by the Snowbird Squadron, crashed about two kilometres northwest of the base slightly after 12:30 p.m. MT.
Maj. Rob Mitchell, commander of the Snowbirds, offered his condolences to the families and friends of those killed.
Speaking from San Francisco, where the squadron is scheduled to perform on Saturday, Mitchell said the pilot was a member of the Snowbirds team and "an extraordinarily talented pilot."
CTV's Wayne Mantyka told CTV Newsnet that the military has not identified the deceased, as they are still contacting the next-of-kin.
Mantyka said the crash took place in an empty field, but was within several kilometres of homes in Moose Jaw.
Investigators, from Ottawa and the base, are on the crash scene, Mantyka said. The team will be comprised of experts, including a lead investigator, flight surgeon and an escape systems specialist.
Mantyka said the crash took place about 45 minutes into the flight and that it appears that no plane made any contact with another.
"It would be premature to speculate on what happened," Keddy said.
There has also been a report of a parachute opening over a field, but military officials could not confirm that.
Keddy said the military would know more within 24 hours.
Debbie Noble told The Canadian Press that she looked up from loading the dishwasher in the afternoon and saw a huge billow of black smoke from a field south of her home on the city's south edge.
She said that her husband, Gord, grabbed some binoculars and could see a fire truck pouring water on what looked to be a crashed aircraft.
"We could see that it was a plane crash and the military vehicles were on their way out there with the fire trucks," Noble said.
Questions about aging jets
According to the Department of National Defence website, the single-engine Tutor jet is only used by the Canadian Forces Snowbird squadron.
The Tutor, first used in 1963, was retired as a training jet in 2000.
National Defence was urged four years ago to replace the jets. A study by the department's director of major service delivery warned that the jets' life expectancy was 2010.
Eight people have died in Snowbirds' crashes since 1972. In 2004, Capt. Miles Selby, a member of the famed Snowbirds squadron, was killed in a collision with another plane. The most recent fatal accident happened at an airshow in Montana in 2007, when Capt. Shawn McCaughey was killed.
The Snowbirds were due to perform in San Francisco for Fleet Week on Oct. 11.
With files from The Canadian Press
Two dead in Snowbird jet crash in Saskatchewan
Updated Thu. Oct. 9 2008 7:13 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A pilot and a military photographer died in a Snowbird jet crash at a base in Saskatchewan Thursday.
Col. Paul Keddy, commander of the Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw, said the pair were on a routine training mission.
"We've had a tragic afternoon," Keddy told reporters at a news conference. "The members of 15 Wing have come together over the last several hours to respond to this, keeping in mind the needs of the families.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the members of the families."
Keddy said the pilot and photographer were taking pictures of three other aircraft just before the crash.
The CT-114 Tutor jet, used exclusively by the Snowbird Squadron, crashed about two kilometres northwest of the base slightly after 12:30 p.m. MT.
Maj. Rob Mitchell, commander of the Snowbirds, offered his condolences to the families and friends of those killed.
Speaking from San Francisco, where the squadron is scheduled to perform on Saturday, Mitchell said the pilot was a member of the Snowbirds team and "an extraordinarily talented pilot."
CTV's Wayne Mantyka told CTV Newsnet that the military has not identified the deceased, as they are still contacting the next-of-kin.
Mantyka said the crash took place in an empty field, but was within several kilometres of homes in Moose Jaw.
Investigators, from Ottawa and the base, are on the crash scene, Mantyka said. The team will be comprised of experts, including a lead investigator, flight surgeon and an escape systems specialist.
Mantyka said the crash took place about 45 minutes into the flight and that it appears that no plane made any contact with another.
"It would be premature to speculate on what happened," Keddy said.
There has also been a report of a parachute opening over a field, but military officials could not confirm that.
Keddy said the military would know more within 24 hours.
Debbie Noble told The Canadian Press that she looked up from loading the dishwasher in the afternoon and saw a huge billow of black smoke from a field south of her home on the city's south edge.
She said that her husband, Gord, grabbed some binoculars and could see a fire truck pouring water on what looked to be a crashed aircraft.
"We could see that it was a plane crash and the military vehicles were on their way out there with the fire trucks," Noble said.
Questions about aging jets
According to the Department of National Defence website, the single-engine Tutor jet is only used by the Canadian Forces Snowbird squadron.
The Tutor, first used in 1963, was retired as a training jet in 2000.
National Defence was urged four years ago to replace the jets. A study by the department's director of major service delivery warned that the jets' life expectancy was 2010.
Eight people have died in Snowbirds' crashes since 1972. In 2004, Capt. Miles Selby, a member of the famed Snowbirds squadron, was killed in a collision with another plane. The most recent fatal accident happened at an airshow in Montana in 2007, when Capt. Shawn McCaughey was killed.
The Snowbirds were due to perform in San Francisco for Fleet Week on Oct. 11.
With files from The Canadian Press
Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:12 pm
This is terrible! God bless those souls and their loved ones.
Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:20 pm
Eherm --
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hp?t=24865
BTW, would you at least consider not using all caps? It's considered yelling on the internet and really isn't needed, especially considering the subject.
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hp?t=24865
BTW, would you at least consider not using all caps? It's considered yelling on the internet and really isn't needed, especially considering the subject.
Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:42 pm
OMG!! This has been an unusual season, way to many accidents and fatalities all around the world-
Comforting thoughts sent out for all those involved
Comforting thoughts sent out for all those involved
Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:04 am
CAPFlyer wrote:Eherm --
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hp?t=24865
BTW, would you at least consider not using all caps? It's considered yelling on the internet and really isn't needed, especially considering the subject.
With 10 exclamation marks, I think he knew he was yelling.
I agree with you that it was unnecessary, but not everyone responds to tragic news with what we might consider appropriate restraint, I guess.
August
Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:18 am
The Inspector wrote:OMG!! This has been an unusual season, way to many accidents and fatalities all around the world-
Comforting thoughts sent out for all those involved
Very sad indeed. On the other hand, it seems to me that last year was a bit worse... Hope that this is the last accident for the year. Please?
Ryan
Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:18 am
omg!!! 
Sad news indeed.
God speed!
Sad news indeed.
God speed!
the snowbirds TEAM is in SF for fleet week
Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:00 am
it was a pilot and photographer that were with the RCAF demonstration squadron. its too bad but your post is a bit misleading. I hope it wasnt another seat belt failure...
Accident
Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:31 am
Thoughts and prayers go out to all at 15 wing at this sad time..
Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:58 am
k5083 wrote:CAPFlyer wrote:Eherm --
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hp?t=24865
BTW, would you at least consider not using all caps? It's considered yelling on the internet and really isn't needed, especially considering the subject.
With 10 exclamation marks, I think he knew he was yelling.
I agree with you that it was unnecessary, but not everyone responds to tragic news with what we might consider appropriate restraint, I guess.
August
Two people die in a plane crash and we're critiquing font size.
Where would the world be without INTERNET ETIQUETTE?
Maybe we could stay focused here. God Bless.
Mike
Last edited by mike furline on Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:42 am, edited 2 times in total.
Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:12 am
Another sad tragedy... spare a thought for those who have been left behind.
With that said...
With that said...
Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:56 pm
The identities of a pilot and a photographer who were killed Thursday after their military aerobatics plane crashed near a Saskatchewan air force base were released Friday.
The Royal Canadian Air Force have identified the two men as pilot Capt. Bryan "Mav" Mitchell, 46, and military photographer Sergeant Charles "Chuck" Senecal, 49.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Captain Mitchell and Sergeant Senecal," said Colonel Paul Keddy, Wing Commander of 15 Wing in a news release Friday. "Captain Mitchell was extremely proud to be a member of the Snowbird Team and the Canadian Forces. It was truly a dream come true for him to have been selected by the Snowbirds to fly in the next show season. He was an inspiring instructor pilot and well-respected officer who had a passion for flying."
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/natio ... 132e045428
The Royal Canadian Air Force have identified the two men as pilot Capt. Bryan "Mav" Mitchell, 46, and military photographer Sergeant Charles "Chuck" Senecal, 49.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Captain Mitchell and Sergeant Senecal," said Colonel Paul Keddy, Wing Commander of 15 Wing in a news release Friday. "Captain Mitchell was extremely proud to be a member of the Snowbird Team and the Canadian Forces. It was truly a dream come true for him to have been selected by the Snowbirds to fly in the next show season. He was an inspiring instructor pilot and well-respected officer who had a passion for flying."
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/natio ... 132e045428
Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:28 pm
mike furline wrote:Two people die in a plane crash and we're critiquing font size.
Where would the world be without INTERNET ETIQUETTE?
Maybe we could stay focused here. God Bless.
Mike
No, we're critiquing tone. At least the original post was considerate in its reporting of the fact that two people lost their lives. "Yelling" about it isn't exactly respectful in my opinion.
Fri Oct 10, 2008 5:48 pm
CAPFlyer wrote:mike furline wrote:Two people die in a plane crash and we're critiquing font size.
Where would the world be without INTERNET ETIQUETTE?
Maybe we could stay focused here. God Bless.
Mike
No, we're critiquing tone. At least the original post was considerate in its reporting of the fact that two people lost their lives. "Yelling" about it isn't exactly respectful in my opinion.
Yep, perceived tone was the saddest and most important part of this thread.
Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:53 pm
Remember their families in your prayers. And I thought that 08 was going to be a better year than 07 in warbirds and airshows.......
Doug.
Doug.