Chuck Coleman Fatal Crash Las Cruces NM

[@sdstreiker]

I knew Chuck. He was generous with his time, and I remember fondly his sharing his joy of aerobatics with me in his Extra 300 when I worked as a flight instructor at KSMO Santa Monica. My condolences to his friends and family.

[@TomJones-uf5sl]

Oh, crud. Chuck Coleman was a very fun and intelligent man who really knew aerobatics. This really tears at my heart. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

[@I_SuperHiro_I]

It can happen to any of us at any time. Really a tragedy to see. Condolences to family and friends, truly.

[@Saltlick11]

Been watching you a long time and rarely seen your bite, which seems warranted in this case. That presentation was perfect. These guys make this aerobatic work seem so routine yet it's obviously the perfect combination of skill, artistry and substantial preparation. So few can do it. Sad to see this great aviator leave us this way. RIP aviator.

[@simonbaxter8001]

So tragic and the margins are so small ... but I never understood why aerobatic manoeuvres, especially at US air shows, always have an exit altitude so low (50 to 100ft AGL). It really gives zero margin of error and has caught so many good pilots out over the years. It really needs a minimum base altitude of at least 250 to 500 feet, to give some kind of safety margin. I don't go to air shows to see how low someone can get exiting a manoeuvre ... I go to see great planes, manoeuvres and more importantly, everyone going home to their families at the end of the day!

[@valerierodger]

I agree - I have a great respect for the amount of skill that it takes to perform such a maneuver, and I appreciate watching it; allowing for a greater safety margin wouldn’t diminish that enjoyment whatsoever, and we wouldn’t lose such incredibly talented and respected pilots.

[@alanstubbs7089]

Absolutely agree, accurately repeating identical manoeuvres is great but if there's a slight difference and just based on the side by side videos it did look like the approach to the manouver was slightly slower and lower than the first. As you said another 100/200 ft min altitude could have changed this tragic accident. My heart goes out to friends and family ❤❤. To all the brilliant pilot's out there please give yourself some extra space as the crowds always get to go home whatever happens.

[@daniels2761]

The maneuvers are done low so the spectators can get a good view. As far as flying low, it's all in the preparation. Most practice is done considerably higher, and pilots have done the routine 100s of times. Most will extend or regroup if they don't have enough energy. They have to stay in the box, but instruments and judgement have to be number one. They have an airspeed for every stunt and the good pilots stick to it.

[@gregorylewis8471]

So sad to hear of Chuck Coleman's passing. R.I.P. Chuck! Thanks for all the performances! Thank you Juan, for so sensitively outlining the accident for us.

[@jameshisself7375]

This is why I got out. Too many dead friends whom I considered every bit as good as I was. I miss it sometimes, but not at times like these.

[@R760-E2]

It's a wonder I survived my years in that business. Lost a number of friends over the years.

[@ericvadekro8334]

What I always said to my student skydivers… ‘if you stick around in the sport long enough you will experience bad stuff and lose friends’ 😢

[@Secretarian]

Kudos to you James. I remember when Richard Collins, a writer at Flying magazine, voluntarily stopped flying period. I thought that was a praiseworthy thing to do, given the "it won't happen to me" mindset that is so prevalent in aviation

[@gdiup9241]

Sailing is safer, stuff happens max at 10 knots.

[@pfsantos007]

@@gdiup9241 The boat may be at 10 knots, the stuff shifting, moving and rotating around you may be slower, but harder.

[@guywithsocks]

Thanks for explaining density altitude 👍🏼

[@royb.1441]

For some reason, this one really accentuates (in my opinion) how quickly things can go from bad to fatal.

[@williampotter2098]

Well said. And very true.

[@robertoler3795]

a tough loss, a fine man, an outstanding aviator, mentor and teacher. we are better for him being here and he will be missed...fair seas and following winds Sir

[@deantait8326]

Was the Racing Director for Pennzoil during Art Shoals aerobatics in his Pennzoil Chipmunk. Lost Art not long after I left the company. RIP to all Pilots

[@DriverDad58]

For some, the danger of doing extreme things is built into their very nature. They show us what is possible. They show us what passion means. They inspire us. They deserve our greatest respect.

[@skycop56]

Good analysis, and thanks for your consideration to the performer and his family in your video.

[@111doomer]

You can do everything right and if what you're doing is inherently risky sometimes it doesn't matter. Small margins or just bad luck. Sorry for your loss Juan it came across like this one hurt.

[@danmac2925]

I started flying in the 1970s. Most of the Oshkosh air show performers from the 1980s have died from crashes, unless they quit.

[@timmotel5804]

Thank You Juan. Peace & Best Wishes.

[@ytzpilot]

RIP Chuck, thanks again Juan

[@jtuttle11]

It's called the 'Lomcevak' or 'Falling Leaf. An aerobatic maneuver invented back in the 1960s by Russian aerobatic pilots. The randomness and unrepeatable nature of the maneuver got it BANNED from international competition. It was also the maneuver flown by Bryan Jensen in Kansas City in his modified Pitts M-12 that resulted in His crash and Death.

[@bobwilson758]

Thanks - I had no idea how to spell that . Amazing at high altitude .

[@tomchidwick]

A very sad and tragic loss. Rest in peace Chuck Coleman.

[@dwaynemcallister7231]

Not many aerobatic pilots die from old age, Bob Hoover being a exception, even he had some close calls like when he scraped the belly of his Commander coming out of a loop after some people wanted him to add some more danger to his routine.

[@tomtom9184]

It's when really experienced and careful pilots get caught that really humbles me.

[@valerierodger]

Yep. It shows that it really can happen to anyone.

[@charliehilbrant]

So well said. This loss hits a little different.

[@SKIPWOOD-UA777CAPT]

Juan is exactly right... aerobatics is the meeting of science and art... I never did low level aerobatics... its also why I never became a Navy SEAL... I knew my limitations

[@69dblcab]

Well done Juan. I see this one hits you a bit harder than most of your videos. Sorry for your loss and the aviation communities loss. All the best. Hugs and Prayers to all.

[@johnmoore8599]

That's really sad and unfortunate. Condolences to his family.

[@SimonWallwork]

As my flying experience built, I started to wonder 'why am I doing this'.

[@SimonWallwork]

After 14,000 hours- going to concentrate on my Son, my cars and the Wife- and a bit of spotting. A bunch of people I knew are deed.

[@litarea]

​@@SimonWallwork There is no shame in prioritizing being there for the ones you love.

[@yamkaw346]

@@SimonWallwork Why do I fly? To provide for my family. It’s a good paying career

[@MeppyMan]

I’m the opposite. Grew up in aviation and wish I had stuck with it. This type of flying is inherently risky, it’s like comparing normal driving to racing. You ran down it safely, but the risk profile is very different.

[@bradsanders407]

​@@MeppyManracing is much safer than driving. Its very rare for a fatality in a up to par racecar. Where as your chance of dyimg on a public road in a crash is 1 in 101.

[@DreadnautVS]

I believe that tumbling maneuver over the top is a 'Lomcovak', named by Czechoslovakian aerobatic pilot Ladislav Bezák's mechanic. It means "headache".

[@oibal60]

Yup.

[@alfredomarquez9777]

More like a serious case of having a "Hangover"...

[@scotabot7826]

Yes, but these were not full lomcovaks, just partial outside "tumbles". Close cousins though.

[@aviator775]

The whole maneuver is an accelerated stall. When the momentum runs out due to drag, you are left in a spin which you then recover from. Sounds like he was just too low when he entered. I am no expert, but my instructor demonstrated a lomcovak during my acro training and explained the maneuver during our preflight briefing.

[@Lando62]

That's why I fly RC now. I can walk away from my mistakes. And EVERYBODY eventually makes a mistake.

[@mysterjd34]

This one hits close to home. I could see them practicing Friday and (had I been home) could have seen them performing from my house in Picacho hills.

[@talkwithtiffanychannel]

Oh wow. Thank you for breaking this down for us.

[@Ifly1976]

“Fly jets long enough and this bound to happen” -Viper. As someone who dips my toes into basic aerobatics, this type of high risk flying is just not something I would be interested in. Flying is dangerous enough as it is, I just can’t bring myself to fly with zero margin. Prayers to those that were close to him, from everything I’ve heard he was a great person, anyone who ever watched him fly knows what kind of pilot he was. Rest in peace sir.

[@scotabot7826]

It takes a different kind of breed to do this kind of flying right on the deck.

[@Ifly1976]

@@scotabot7826 not me…. I value my family more than a thrill

[@1shARyn3]

In gist, Density Altitude is the altitude that the plane thinks it is flying at

[@scotabot7826]

Yes literally, you can be at 200 ft agl and the sirplane thinks it's at 9,000 ft agl.

[@cgfacer3022]

This is going to sound obnoxious, but yes and no. There’s a lot of different ways to consider the altitude an airplane “thinks” it’s at 😂

[@DanTaron-l5o]

I heard about this in the news. Great to see your analysis.

[@craig7350]

Its incredible these guys are flying these maneuvers at this altitude, just at the verge of being totally out of control.

[@TheSnookman]

Seen so many crashes where an extra 500ft of altitude would've kept them off the 'news.' 😢

[@noturnleftunstoned72]

We lost a giant asset in the world of aviation. A rare breed from what I hear. R.I.P. to both of them

[@bradsanders407]

Both?

[@sgtzsquad]

I was a wrench turner and multimeter user on the AV8A. Watching your channel has given me even more respect for the pilots flying. Semper Fi!

[@josephroberts6865]

Sad to hear of the loss of an aerobatic pilot. Flying consists of inherent risks. Aerobatic flying is simply a dangerous but highly entertaining business. Performing aerobatic maneuvers relatively close to the ground leaves no margin for error and literally requires perfection. Sadly, we’re imperfect and accidents occur. RIP and Godspeed Mr. Coleman! Condolences to his family and friends.

[@pittss2c601]

Similar to the pilot that recently crashed the Gamebird. Aerobatics too low (one maneuver too low). Early in his career, Sean Tucker was busted by Bob Hoover for that very thing. Sean was constantly diving at the ground. Bob told him to “Knock it off” and he did.

[@R760-E2]

One night in the bar where we were staying when we were doing the the show at Hamilton Field, the Hoov got on my ass about my flying too. "You don't need to try to impress anyone, you're starting to scare us now". A great man, that was one of the big influences on me.

[@chriswilliams1944]

My instructor, who was a retired RAF fast jet pilot, always used to say ‘there are old pilots and bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.’ Such terribly small margins for error doing that stuff. RIP.

[@mmoly-cj4bd]

Bob Hoover was old and bold. He died on October 25, 2016, near his home in Los Angeles at the age of 94 from heart failure. What he could do with an airplane was absolutely astounding.

[@MrRem7600]

Fantastic analysis - I watched this over and over from the news sources unable to pick any point in the routine that led to this, left me thinking "how?" - slowed down and explained like you did it's clear as anything.

[@grumpy3543]

So sad. Thanks Juan. It just looks like he didn’t have as much energy entering onto the 45 as he did on Friday. And you can that that at the top where he starts the maneuver. He didn’t have near the altitude. It could have been the angle of the two videos because they were shot in different locations. But something looked different.

[@d.t.4523]

Thank you Juan, keep working.

[@stringpicker5468]

I live near small rural airfield in Australia. It's popular with gliders and aerobatics folks. I was watching a plane practising what I think is the same manoeuvre a few days ago. It looks and is impressive, but he was at noticeably higher altitude. Very sad.

[@maxmackinlay618]

It takes a Bold pilot to pull out of a high speed dive barely metres off the ground. Tends to shorted ones lifespan.

[@Breenild]

I've seen accidents like this multiple times. I will never understand, why these pilots want to do that maneuvers in such a low altitude. That's the reason, why i never visit airshows with aerobatics

[@Sylvan_dB]

I'd rather go to the shows where I can see the planes on the ground and ideally at each plane talk with someone who knows and loves the plane.

[@aviationavenue2261]

This is a tough loss for the airshow industry and aviation community. Chuck was one of the best pilots out there. Well respected and loved by everyone who knew him. I had the honor and pleasure of interviewing him for my KZbin channel and podcast. He gave me the best advice. He will be missed. Blue skies and tailwinds, Chuck. 😢🫡🙏🏻🕊️

[@robertpierce1981]

Assuming you knew him Juan. Sorry for your loss.

[@ericvadekro8334]

Density altitude is an important factor in many accidents it seems (I’m not a pilot btw). Thanks for the explanation. A sad loss…. Rest in peace

[@pamlove421]

I got my ppl in El Paso in 1990. I did all my training in a Cessna 172. They don't use Cessna 150 in this area because of density altitude.

[@crapton9002]

Juan, it appeared Chuck never throttled up after recovering from the stall. Thanks for all you do. We await the NTSB report.

[@crapton9002]

@@shannonwhitaker9630 Come back and edit that post, it makes no sense. Most comment sections are a zoo of ignorance and trolls. I feel Juan's pain.

[@user-sg8yb7pg8h]

@@shannonwhitaker9630 Agreed - only those vetted by Juan can comment.

[@pigdroppings]

Juan has a lot more knowledge of this type of aviation than NTSB bureaucrats.

[@ydonl]

@@user-sg8yb7pg8h If somebody said “grow up,” would you understand what they meant?

[@valerierodger]

@@pigdroppings 🙄 investigators aren’t bureaucrats, and Juan doesn’t have access to all the information that they do - so, yeah, the NTSB report will absolutely provide a greater understanding of what went wrong.

[@ourlifeinwyoming4654]

Thank you Brownie. This hit hard.

[@hotttt28]

It's a very sad tale .Condolences to the family and friends. Your wings have now been folded !

[@JoshuaTootell]

My CFI mentioned to me recently: "Sometimes I wonder why I still do this stuff. I don't have anything to prove. Then I go out (in his Pitts) and then I remember." He certainly does it "safer", being less skilled, but I get the need for the rush with my other hobbies. I'm a new pilot, I still get that rush just from a decent landing 😂

[@flyingardilla143]

I learned to fly at Las Cruces. On a hot day, you would have to think light thoughts to get the C-152 off the runway.

[@patrickpowell2236]

I was going to land at Las Cruces that morning, refuel, then watch the airshow 12:15 to 4:15 p.m. I'm glad I didn't. I never want to see an aircraft accident in person.

[@kevinhendley8524]

Shout out to Brian for this this amazing comparison

[@sncy5303]

This certified pilot here raises his hat to the aerobatic performers. I certainly couldn't fly like that (and wouldn't want to take the risk).

[@scotabot7826]

That's two of us. I will not stall a airplane at less than 3,000 agl. I like altitude, it's life.

[@Bill3558]

These guys have huge balls. I get nervous flying through turbulence. I’m sure the wings are gonna come off.

[@markmatuszak4527]

In my 50+ years and 30,000 hours - 37+ years with a major airline, I have known many pilots who were addicted to aerobatics. Unfortunately it seems if one doe this long enough, with enough intensity, they get die performing or practicing. Whether they make a mistake, or have a physical event, or the plane breaks... It happens none the less. I never could wrap my head around the attraction.

[@stevet8121]

Your airplane doesn't care who you are. If you tell it to kill you it will.

[@karoleenascottage]

Wow. Good point.

[@bradsanders407]

Gee really? What about my knife? It cares about me right? It will only cut others but not me correct?

[@skyepilotte11]

RIP Chuck Coleman... It can happen to the best whether acrobatics or normal flying.

[@CentralStateMower]

Aerobatic Flying like this is so very unforgiving... One moment of distraction or a slight change like higher density altitude can turn routine into disaster in a heartbeat! Condolences to the Coleman family 😢

[@TheGospelQuartetParadise]

Condolences to his family and friends.

[@williampotter2098]

Thanks Juan. I couldn't figure that one out. RIP.

[@valerierodger]

Low-level aerobatics is an extended game of Russian Roulette - your odds are much better than one in six, and the more skill you have the better your chances of survival, but that bullet is always there and the longer you play the more likely it is that your luck will run out. I’ve been waiting for this video to come out. The first I heard of his death was a short news clip where the reporter said he started to level off then lost control and the plane somersaulted - and most of the people in the comment section also assumed that the tumble was him losing control, suggesting that he had a medical issue or blacked out or something. It was extremely frustrating, given that it would be obvious to anybody familiar with airshows that the tumbling was a deliberate maneuver, and that he either started to low for some reason or the recovery took longer than expected. I had found a video of his routine and could spot the point where it seemed to me things might have gone wrong, but I couldn’t tell what had gone wrong or why. Now I can finally start pointing people at this video… I found the video difficult to watch - seeing him recovering and knowing he’s too close to the ground to make it in time.

[@Brian.Murray]

It was quite surreal to see hear the announcers calming everyone. Some of the performers were noting how low he was. Hopefully the NTSB will be able to get some data from his EFIS.

[@182QKFTW]

*Crankshaft* is what the RC guys call that "tumble" maneuver, I believe

[@I_Am_Your_Problem]

RC?

[@ElCharvo]

he was not attempting a crankshaft here

[@liamhome1664]

There's a famous quote by Houdini - "I never do anything more dangerous than sitting on my couch" and that's a serious moral boundary - you never want the audience to be complicit in something that is dangerous. I think, though, that certain performances blur the line of that moral issue, because the art might be inherently dangerous yet the performers love it anyway. In those cases, they know the risks and choose to proceed, not for the audiences but for their love of the art. Rest in peace.

[@PatrickDuffy-u3s]

I fly aerobatic models, and I spent hours practicing on the simulator to perfect these moves, but on occasion still made a mistake and crashed. I now fly with the 2-mistake rule - have enough altitude to recover from two mistakes and 99% of the time I can recover. From the video, he simply took too much risk flying low.

[@valerierodger]

Too much risk flying low - well that’s airshow aerobatics in a nutshell

[@davidsmith7906]

1% wrong unfortunately means 100% dead. Very traumatic for family , friends and spectators. I, too, am reluctant to go to air shows involving low level aerobatics.

[@tubemaxie]

Very sad. But excellent analysis.

[@johnbrown-so3vz]

Remember a very famous pilot being interviewed on his low-level display flying. He said that one day he realised all of his friends he started with were either dead or have survived terrible incidents. Instantly he knows that this was to be his final event.

[@johnstreet797]

Sorry for the loss of your compadre Juan.

[@jamesbruce1183]

Condolences. I do not do anything like this but I have done similar aerobatics with model airplanes. In some maneuvers, the outcome will vary (we don't try to be near as precise unless competition) so we try to fly two mistakes high. I have seen airshow pilots do this to give themselves more margin. It can be very unnerving when you exit a maneuver at a different attitude than expected. Or as you said when one wing stalls unexpectedly. Did my first snaproll at the top of a loop unintentionally.

[@rhinog100g7]

I appreciate your comment on the know-it-all-keyboard warriors. I started flying in 1974, and to this day, I have survived myself.

[@valerierodger]

There’s been some really ignorant comments on some videos on other channels - very disrespectful of the man and his memory

[@jadams3427]

No thumbs up for this. It is sad. Why not just do aerobatics a bit higher up ?

[@Chainsaw-ASMR]

Probably several reasons: it looks better for the spectators at a lower altitude and the pilot gets a bigger dose of adrenaline. I’m not knocking the pilot for chasing his dragon, the man obviously had skills that I can only dream of, he simply made a mistake. My heart goes out his family, friends and fellow daredevil aviators.

[@jimmyonthebike194]

Juan, as one of the "arm-chair" wannabes, I am in ae of the talent, skill and ability it takes to fly a jumbo, but what these aerobatic pilots are able to do. RIP.

[@williampotter2098]

Completely different things.

[@pfsantos007]

Doesn't matter how good you are. Always leave a little extra margin of safety for wife, kids and loved ones. Driving, riding, flying, or doing stupid stuff.

[@armchairtin-kicker503]

How few of us go out doing what we have mastered and love. Although the spectators are awed by those who work at the edge of human performance, their is a vicious positive feedback loop created. Rest in peace, Chuck Coleman

[@awachsmann]

Great analysis of such a tragic event. It only takes one mistake.

[@scotabot7826]

And a small minor one at that!!

[@JMWexperience]

Very sad when accidents happen, especially at fun events like air shows with spectators. My condolences to the pilot, his loved ones, and fellow pilots.

[@gregculverwell]

Showing off is often fatal. I learnt in my teens that showing off was when I got hurt. I still did the same daring things but never in front of other people. I stopped going to airshows after having a very close shave with a 'demonstrator' who made a large hole in the ground where I had been standing 10 seconds before. I left that spot because it seemed to me that he was flying beyond his abilities and didn't want to see the result.

[@empireoflizards]

I'm not sure that 'showing off' is necessarily accurate for airshow pilots. They practice these maneuvers to the last detail and it's a professional job. When one decides to demonstrate skill or test boundaries 'off the cuff' just to get attention without proper preparation or focus, then it's 'showing off'. But, point well taken, as some pilots at these shows sometimes take gambles outside of their comfort zone.

[@I_Am_Your_Problem]

Learnt? I bet you are indeed real learnt all right.

[@scotabot7826]

Very true statements Juan. It's a very sad reality at times! Thinking back over the last 45 years many names come to mind. Very sad indeed! God Speed!

[@asteverino8569]

Just watching these planes do low level acrobatics is enough to tell me they need precision, talent and a state of mind that all support each other.

[@Chellz801]

Rest in Peace to him and condolences to his family. Hope they can heal from this tragedy.

[@donmoore7785]

No margin for error. A super accomplished aviator - so sad. RIP

[@fspfathersonpaintball6177]

Spot on Juan. when I watched the other video, you could see that the maneuver didnt go to plan and a substantial amount of time was spent inverted compared to the previous day resulting in insufficient airspeed and room to recover. Its a tragic loss for sure, prayers to the family.

[@pnzrldr]

This highlights the very thin margins airshow performers are operating at. Bleeding low time compared to folks doing this, but I don't think that audiences get so much more from the riskiest maneuvers. As a frequent spectator, and budding aero pilot, I'm happy to see well executed low altitude maneuvers that are not quite so bleeding edge on control and options. Give yourself some outs - the crowd will still love you. Sad to see him go.

[@mikeclarke952]

Wow such incredible flying skills and the saddest thing is they don't get paid the big bucks to go out there and risk their lives for the crowds "oows and awws". So sorry for the Coleman family, god bless.

[@larryweitzman5163]

At 6,500' density altitude, your engine is down to about 80% power and the "wing" is too. What a crying shame. Another tragic loss, but he went out his way.

[@michaelpetz5169]

Very sad, my sincere condolences to his family and friends, may he Rest In Peace.

[@gepflegtePCSpieleKultur]

Oh my, ruined my Day... Thanks for the analysis...

[@peterredfern1174]

Another professional airman lost,condolences to his family,thanks Juan,safe flights mate,🙏🙏👋👍

[@Channelscruf]

I knew Chuck. Great guy. I am beyond sad about this news.

[@tedsaylor6016]

That cloud deck on Sunday, might have somehow lowered the altitude or airspeed (energy) at the start of the maneuver.

[@Sylvan_dB]

The problem with this is, you never quite know how close you are to failure unless you fail. RIP Chuck.

[@zlm001]

Chuck Coleman led a seemingly excellent and great life full of stories and it’s a shame he can’t share or create them anymore. He knew the risks and he went out flying, but those facts offer little consolation or comfort to anyone.

[@aproudamerican2692]

*🙏🏻Rest In Peace🕊* Chuck Coleman 2024 Prayers and Best Wishes to Chucks Family an Friends

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420]

For those outside Liberia and Myanmar, 540 cubic inches is 8.8 litres. A biggy!

[@johnnorth9355]

I am sure of one thing - I never could or would fly in a plane doing that. RIP.

[@pamshewan9181]

Yes Blanco, in the area of the unforgiving. God bless 😔

[@g412bb]

This reminds me a lot of the crash at the Ostend airshow in 1997 killing 10 and injuring 60 people. Also an Extra 300 with similar kind of stunt , ran out altitude and crashed in the public.

[@gregdankert]

In early training I often heard -“There are no old bold pilots” as a cautionary tale