- April 24, 2024
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During the final aerobatics display of the day, at 4:29 p.m., Saturday, March 26, a plane went down at Wings Over Flagler. One pilot was killed.
William E. Walker, 58, of Cookeville, Tenn., was flying a 1983 Yak-52, a propeller-driven Russian Cold War trainer. Relatives have been notified.
Flagler County Fire/Rescue was called and pronounced Walker dead on the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified and will be investigating the crash, according to County Communications Manager Carl Laundrie.
“We had a real nice day at Wings Over Flagler all day long,” Laundrie said. In the final display of Saturday’s event, stunt pilots were doing what could be best described as “loops,” said Laundrie, and the Yak “drove straight into the ground” at the edge of the Flagler County Airport property line.
“The pilot was killed instantly,” he said. “We don’t know what caused the crash.”
The Wings Over Flagler weekend event, featuring more than 60 warbirds, was expecting a turnout of 10,000 people.
Sunday’s festivities will take place as planned, but without a stunt display.
“The show will go on,” Laundrie said; “however, there will be no aerobatics. But there will be fly-overs.” There will also be static plane and hardware displays, as well as the regular assemblage of tents and vendors.
