ANN REALTIME REPORTING 03.16.07 1600 EDT: Aero-News has learned the pilot of an L-39 was killed Friday afternoon, when the single-engine jet crashed during a performance at the Tico Warbird Airshow in Titusville, FL.

Officials at Space Coast Regional Airport (TIX) told Florida Today the pilot, Eilon Krugman-Kaldi, 58, was killed in the accident.

Witnesses say Krugman-Kaldi was performing a loop when he crashed shortly after 2:30 pm. One witness, Tom Erickson, said it appeared the pilot realized he was too close to the ground during the maneuver, and attempted to pull out of the loop.

"I said to myself that looks too low," Erikson said. "Why was he so low to the ground? This was a disaster."

Former Golden Knights Army parachute team member Dennis West also saw the plane crash.

"I was watching one plane before that doing some acrobatic stuff," he said. "When that plane was done, I saw a jet in the air and I turned to watch him. The plane was heading south 2,000 feet off the ground, then all of a sudden it just went straight down. I couldn't hear the impact but I saw the big black puff of smoke."

The accident occurred minutes after the airfield had reopened, following a rain shower. Friday was the first day of the planned three-day event.

FMI: www.nbbd.com/festivals/warbird/