Tragedy Strikes Two Pilots, Gary Miller and Chandy Clanton, Practicing For Same Airshow

Hazards can come at all times and in all forms -- and few people know that better than those who fly in airshows -- if not thorough their own occasional moments of peril... then from the diminishing ranks of their friends who have gone west.

The week, we lost two outstanding members of the airshow community, oddly though, while practicing for the very same airshow.

Last Thursday a consummate SNJ/T-6 pilot, Gary Miller (shown above with his wife, Becky), went down while engaging in an aerobatic practice session in Colorado. Witnesses indicate that the aircraft was either spiraling or spinning prior to impact. 

Gary was an ATP who had been flying since 14 years of age and was taught to fly by his Dad. He had over 800 hours in the SNJ/T-6 and some 2500 hours total time. Most recently, he made a living in aviation sales and as a corporate pilot. He was Reno race qualified and had raced for several years. He also was an ICAS member with a low-level aerobatic waiver.

Miller leaves a wife, Becky, and four children, Taylor Anne, Lauren, Geoffrey and Lindsay - aged 14-18. We hope you'll find time to remember them in your thoughts and prayers... the days ahead are likely to be tough ones...

A memorial service for Gary will be held on July 14th, 11AM at Centennial Airport, 7803 S. Peoria St., Englewood, CO 80112, Hangar #7 at the base of the Control Tower. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Miller Children's College Fund - Air Power West, 3271 Springmeadow Cir., Castle Rock, CO 80109.

As previously reported late Friday night, US Unlimited Aerobatic Team Pilot, Chandy Clanton, went down Friday afternoon in a bean field near the location of Saturdays WingNuts Fly-In in Tarkio, Mo. Her Edge 540 reportedly "went down hard" while performing what her Father called "aggressive" maneuvers. No other confirmed accident information is presently available but the impact was said to be "Not Survivable" and she was declared dead at the scene. 

Clanton was a much celebrated member of the US Unlimited Aerobatic Team, and flew at the 2003 World Championships in Lakeland, Florida, where her bio reports that she was the youngest female pilot. Clanton won the Programme Q flight at the 2007 Championships in Granada, Spain, and was also the only woman named to the 2003 "Stars of Tomorrow" program where she performed before hundreds of thousands of spectators at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh -- she was the only "Stars" performer invited back for the 2004 and 2005 shows.

A memorial service for Clanton's family and friends will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 17 at the Messiah Lutheran Church, 1800 South 84th Street in Lincoln, Nebraska, (402-489-3024). Sadly, Clanton also leaves children behind -- two young sons, Harrison and Drew. ANN extends our condolences and prayers to them and the many friends and family who are feeling her loss at this time.

** Report created 7/10/2009 Record 1 **
IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 212TC Make/Model: SNJ- Description: NORTH AMERICAN
 Date: 07/09/2009 Time: 1924
 Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
 Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
 City: SIMLA State: CO Country: US

DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOW CIRCUMSTANCES NEAR SIMLA, CO

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: DENVER, CO (NM03) Entry date: 07/10/2009

** Report created 7/13/2009 Record 5 **
IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 26HB Make/Model: EXP Description: EDGE 540
 Date: 07/10/2009 Time: 1927
 Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
 Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
 City: TARKIO State: MO Country: US

DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT, WHILE PERFORMING AT AN AIRSHOW DEMONSTRATION, IMPACTED THE GROUND OFF THE RUNWAY, THE ONE PERSON ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED, TARKIO, MO

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
 # Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: VMC
OTHER DATA
Activity: Other Phase: Maneuver Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: KANSAS CITY, MO (CE05) Entry date: 07/13/2009

FMI: www.garymillerairshows.com, www.chandyclanton.com, www.wingnutsflyingcircus.com