Archives > News Update
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Frisco pilot dies in Iowa air show crash
Glenn A. Smith, right, died at the Quad-City Air Show on Sept. 1. Smith's plane made a sharp descent after a banking maneuver. Photo courtesy of the Hoppers.
By Anthony Tosie, atosie@starlocalnews.com
A Frisco pilot died in crash at an air show in Davenport, Iowa, when his plane made a sharp descent and he was unable to exit.
Glenn A. Smith, 59, died when his plane crashed at the Quad-City Air Show in Davenport. At the event, Smith was flying in formation with two other pilots from his flying team, the Hoppers, when his plane didn't pull out of a 45-degree banking move. Smith's plane crashed at about 1:25 p.m. Saturday.
Police and federal aviation officials have not yet determined what caused the crash. A preliminary report on the crash is expected within a week. No other individuals were injured as a result of the crash.
"He never had an opportunity to come out of [the plane's trajectory]," Schaeffer said.
According to the website for the Hoppers, Smith had 24 years of flying experience and had logged more than 2,000 hours of flight time, 600 of which were in jets. Smith was the newest members of the Hoppers, the website states.
Smith was piloting an Aero L-39 Albatross jet, which was originally developed in the late 1960s in Czechoslovakia; registry for Smith's jet lists a 1984 manufacturing date. The jet was a retired military plane, according to a report from the Associated Press.
Prior to joining the Hoppers, Smith was a software entrepreneur who sold his company to Tyler Technologies. Smith retired early to focus on his passion for flying.
On Sunday, a squadron of planes flew over Smith's crash site in the "missing man formation."
This article will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News Update «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
