Red Gnat Airplane Went Down During CarFest Event In Oulton Park

The pilot of a Red Gnat airplane was fatally injured Saturday when the plane went down during a demonstration which was part of the CarFest event in Oulton Park in Tarporley, Cheshire U.K.

The pilot has been identified as Kevin Whyman. According to the U.K. newspaper Metro, thousands were watching when the aircraft went down. One witness told the BBC that there were two planes involved in the demonstration, and one "just seemed to dive where the car park is. Then there was a big bang."

The accident and fatality were confirmed by Chris Evans, one of the presenters of the television program "Top Gear" and the founder of the event. "Just after 2pm, there was a tragic accident – the result of which was one of the pilots involved in a synchro display lost his life.

"The event will continue on the advice of the three aviation authorities we are currently involved with as part of the ongoing investigation into what happened," he said.

The U.K. newspaper The Telegraph reports that Whyman was one of the founders of the Gnat Display Team. He had been a pilot for the RAF.

(Image from Red Gnat Display Team Facebook page)

FMI: www.carfest.org, www.facebook.com/pages/Gnat-Display-Team/134724899917689