An attendee looks at airplanes parked Monday, July 24, 2023, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
By TopTrendReportTv
July 30, 2023
Two aircraft, a Rotorway 162F helicopter and an ELA Eclipse 10 gyrocopter, collided shortly after noon at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, according to authorities. The incident occurred during the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual fly-in convention, although the aircraft were not part of the air show.
The association confirmed that two individuals were killed in the collision, identified as pilot Mark Peterson, 69, from Foley, Alabama, and passenger Thomas Volz, 72, from Amelia, Ohio. Additionally, two others were injured and taken to a local hospital, where they are now in stable condition. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the crash.
On a separate note, a tragic plane crash occurred on the same day when a single-engine North American T-6 aircraft went down into Lake Winnebago near Oshkosh, resulting in the death of two individuals. The victims were identified as Devyn Reilly, 30, from Guadalupe, Texas, and Zach Colliemoreno, 20, whose hometown was not immediately available. The NTSB is also conducting an investigation into this incident.
The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office expressed condolences to all those affected in a social media post on Saturday evening. EAA CEO Jack Pelton conveyed similar sympathies during a press conference on Sunday, mentioning that EAA is supporting the families of those involved, and the injured individuals are now in stable condition.
Despite the unfortunate events, Pelton emphasized that EAA is a close-knit community and will work through this difficult time. He mentioned that the organization will conduct a debriefing, as they do every year, to evaluate the incidents and identify areas for improvement in future events.
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