Tom Righetti Confirmed Dead; One of just Over a Dozen Airworthy 'Fagots,' Lost in Virginia

Tom Righetti, well-known airshow performer in his MiG-15, has lost his life in his prize bird. One of maybe fifteen airworthy MiG-15s in the world (of some 8000 produced), Tom and Dale Snodgrass (flying his F-86) have been reliving a little part of the Korean War for the past several years. It was disclosed late yesterday that Tom was flying the MiG.

Dr. Tom is Chief of Radiology Services at Jackson South Community Hospital in Miami; and he also was the Chairman of the thrilling Wings Over Miami airshow, as well as Chairman of the Board of the Wings Over Miami Museum. As of lunchtime Thursday, rescuers had been on-scene just two hours, but post-crash fire kept them from the aircraft for quite a while.

This same MiG had a little mishap last December 8, when its canopy blew off, shortly after takeoff. The canopy hit a house, in near-the-airport Kendall (FL); and Righetti was able to land safely. Nobody was hurt.

When this story was first reported, we had no word as to the fate of Righetti and were hoping for the best... but aviation can be a cruel-taskmaster now and then... and this is such a time. We offer our prayers for our colleague, entertainer, and friend.

**   Report created 9/19/02   Record 1   **
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 151MG        Make/Model: MG15      Description: 1956 MIG-15
  Date: 09/18/2002     Time: 1700
  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
  City: WILMINGTON   State: NC   Country: US
DESCRIPTION
  ACFT CRASHED IN A SECLUDED WOODED SWAMPY AREA, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN, WILMINGTON, NC
INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:  1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   1
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
WEATHER: KILM 181653Z 10009KT 9SM SCT028 BKN037 28/22 A3003
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: N MYRTLE BEACH, SC          Dep Date: 09/18/2002   Dep. Time:
  Destination: VIRGINIA BEACH, VA       Flt Plan: UNK          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: UNK
  Last Clearance: LOST RADIO COMM 20M NE OF NMB,SC
  FAA FSDO: CHARLOTTE, NC  (SO33)                 Entry date: 09/19/2002