Pilot Fatally Injured During Airshow Performance

A Yak 52 that was performing in the second annual "Wings Over Flagler" airshow at Flagler County Airport in Florida went down shortly after takeoff Saturday afternoon. The pilot was fatally injured in the accident.

Yak 52 File Photo

Witnesses told Flaglerlive.com that the aircraft was part of a four airplane team that was performing in the show. They said the aircraft had been performing a maneuver in which it and another plane were making a heart with their smoke when it "went straight down." Another witness, the Flagler County property appraiser, said the airplane was "trying to pull up," but "flew straight into the ground."

The pilot has been identified by friends as Bill Walker, also known as "Wild Bill" in airshow circles. He was flying as part of the Tennessee-based  "Red Thunder" aerobatic team, which performs mostly in the eastern half of the U.S.

The show was halted after the accident, about a half hour before it was scheduled to end. Organizers say that it will go on as scheduled on Sunday, but the Florida Times-Union said no aerobatic activity would take place. All of the airshow performers and other aircraft are planning to be part of a mass flyover as a tribute to Walker. The Wings over Flagler website indicates that they are not a "funded" show, and that the acts are not paid to perform.

FMI: www.wingsoverflagler.com