Was Rehearsing For Performance At The Zhengzhou Airshow In Zhengzhou, China

U.S. aerobatic pilot and musician Elgin Wells was fatally injured last week while practicing for a performance at the Zhengzhou Airshow in Zhengzhou, China.

Airshow Stuff reports that the accident took place Wednesday, April 26 at about 6:14 local time. Few other details about the accident or its circumstances are available.

Elgin was a native of Atlanta, GA. He started singing and playing various instruments at the age of 14, and his band "The Elgin Well Group" had won several music awards, including the New South Music Award for Best Jazz Band. He produced 12 albums mainly in the genres of jazz and blues.

Wells took up flying at the age of 18. His father was a Navy pilot who went on to fly for Delta Airlines. While the elder Wells wanted his son to fly for the airlines, he was drawn to aerobatics. He was rated for Unlimited Low Level aerobatics and helped lead an airshow team known as "Airshow Unlimited".

Wells began building his StarJammer aircraft in 1996. It was adorned with more than 250 lights and had an onboard sound system that included a 4,000 watt amplifier, combining the airplane to combine music and aerobatics in a unique way.

(Photo by Brian Wallis via Facebook)

FMI: Original report