Updated: Saturday, 22 Jun 2013, 11:40 PM EDT
Published : Saturday, 22 Jun 2013, 1:01 PM EDT
VANDALIA, Ohio (WDTN) - A wing walker and her pilot were killed instantly when their stunt plane crashed into a ball of fire just before 1 p.m. Saturday at the Vectren Dayton Air Show.
The wing walking act starring Jane Wicker was flying at the time. Her air show Facebook page identified the deceased pilot as Charlie Schwenker.
Wicker's Facebook page released a statement late Saturday afternoon:
"It is with sad hearts that we announce that Jane Wicker and Charlie Schwenker were tragically killed while performing at the Vectren Dayton Air Show. We ask for your prayers for the families and privacy of all involved and allow them time to grieve and work through these events. No one else was involved in the accident."
The plane appeared to be flying too low when its wing clipped the ground and the plane crashed. The plane rolled before bursting into flames.
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Despite the fact firefighters were on scene seconds after the crash, the Ohio State Patrol said there was nothing rescuers could do when they arrived on the scene of the crash.
No spectators were injured.
Stunt plane pilot Jim LeRoy as killed in 2007 when his biplane crashed at the Dayton Air Show.
SHOW CANCELED SATURDAY
Organizers announced the remainder of Saturday's air show would be canceled. Tickets to Saturday's show will be honored when the show resumes Sunday. The air show will hold a moment of silence Sunday.
The air show was only in its third featured performance when the accident happened.
We will continue to bring you more information as it becomes available.
WING WALKER
"I don't do it for the money..." Jane told WDTN in an interview Friday , "I do it for the fun."
Jane told WDTN's Dan Edwards that she was engaged to be married and planed to be married on the wing of the plane.
"I'm never nervous or scared because I know if I do everything as I usually do, everything's going to be just fine," she told Living Dayton Friday in a live interview .
Jane began her aviation career in 1988. In 1990, she answered a job opening for a wing walker for Flying Circus Airshow.
THE INVESTIGATION
The Ohio State Patrol reports the NTSB will be called in to investigate as is normal procedure following an aircraft incident.
Jason Aguilera of the National Transportation Safety Board is on his way here from Denver and he will head up the investigation into the tragedy at the air show.
Whenever there is a fatal plane crash, the National Transportation Safety Board is in charge. Spokesperson Eric Weiss says the initial investigation into what went wrong at the air show will take three to five days.\
Read More about the Investigation here»
Published : Saturday, 22 Jun 2013, 1:01 PM EDT
VANDALIA, Ohio (WDTN) - A wing walker and her pilot were killed instantly when their stunt plane crashed into a ball of fire just before 1 p.m. Saturday at the Vectren Dayton Air Show.
The wing walking act starring Jane Wicker was flying at the time. Her air show Facebook page identified the deceased pilot as Charlie Schwenker.
Wicker's Facebook page released a statement late Saturday afternoon:
"It is with sad hearts that we announce that Jane Wicker and Charlie Schwenker were tragically killed while performing at the Vectren Dayton Air Show. We ask for your prayers for the families and privacy of all involved and allow them time to grieve and work through these events. No one else was involved in the accident."
The plane appeared to be flying too low when its wing clipped the ground and the plane crashed. The plane rolled before bursting into flames.
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- PHOTOS: Deadly crash at the air show
- VIDEO: News conference confirms 2 dead
- WARNING: GRAPHIC Video Click here
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Despite the fact firefighters were on scene seconds after the crash, the Ohio State Patrol said there was nothing rescuers could do when they arrived on the scene of the crash.
No spectators were injured.
Stunt plane pilot Jim LeRoy as killed in 2007 when his biplane crashed at the Dayton Air Show.
SHOW CANCELED SATURDAY
Organizers announced the remainder of Saturday's air show would be canceled. Tickets to Saturday's show will be honored when the show resumes Sunday. The air show will hold a moment of silence Sunday.
The air show was only in its third featured performance when the accident happened.
We will continue to bring you more information as it becomes available.
WING WALKER
"I don't do it for the money..." Jane told WDTN in an interview Friday , "I do it for the fun."
Jane told WDTN's Dan Edwards that she was engaged to be married and planed to be married on the wing of the plane.
"I'm never nervous or scared because I know if I do everything as I usually do, everything's going to be just fine," she told Living Dayton Friday in a live interview .
Jane began her aviation career in 1988. In 1990, she answered a job opening for a wing walker for Flying Circus Airshow.
THE INVESTIGATION
The Ohio State Patrol reports the NTSB will be called in to investigate as is normal procedure following an aircraft incident.
Jason Aguilera of the National Transportation Safety Board is on his way here from Denver and he will head up the investigation into the tragedy at the air show.
Whenever there is a fatal plane crash, the National Transportation Safety Board is in charge. Spokesperson Eric Weiss says the initial investigation into what went wrong at the air show will take three to five days.\
Read More about the Investigation here»