L-39 crash in Nevada May 19, 2012

[Liberator]

Reports of a L-39 crash in Nevada today, anyone know any more or what happened?

[TAdan]

From the Red Steel Jet Team facebook page.

My condolences to the friends and family.

On Friday May 18th 2012, family, friends and everyone in the aviation community lost our close and dear friend, Douglas Gilliss. Yesterday just outside of Boulder City, NV we lost Doug in a private air plane crash on his way to Van Nuys, California. Last night after arriving in Van Nuys Doug was to jump on a commercial flight to Kansas City where he was scheduled to then join his new aviation family The Red Steel Jet Team at Whiteman AFB for the Wings Over Whiteman air show. In the past year Doug was one of the driving forces behind the Red Steel Jet Team's progressive success and safety in its inaugural air show season. Fellow Red Steel pilot Zach McNeil and Doug were close friends for over 25 years and was Zach's mentor. This tragedy has hit the Red Steel Jet Team very hard and we all sat down to really think of what was the right thing to do moving forward. After many tears and thoughts The Red Steel Jet Team would still like to fly this weekend at Whiteman AFB. "It's what Doug loved to do and he would have wanted us to fly this weekend, so that's what we are going to do," Zach McNeil - RSJT Pilot. The Red Steel Jet Team would like to ask that everyone at the Wings Over Whiteman Air show please join us in dedicating this show to Doug Gillis. Doug's aviation resume is and will remain one of the most respected in the industry. The Red Steel Jet Team will fly two of the three L-39's this weekend with one remaining static for display. This is still a hard time for us all so please, we do ask for a bit of privacy and respect to help get through this difficult time. Just know, Doug Gilliss will be flying with us in the skies over Whiteman AFB this weekend so please keep your eyes, thoughts and prayers on the Red Steel Jet Team. Thank You.

We Love You Doug & This Ones For You!" - The Red Steel Jet Team.

[Adam Kline]

So it is not an L-39 crash, but still a tragedy.

[stambo]

Doug checked me out in the L-29, L-39, and my Jet Provost. Knew him 10 years.
He will be missed.
RIP, Thunder Delfin Lead

[RareBear]

It was indeed an L-39 that crashed. Read the news report.

Walt

[Stephan Wilkinson]

It was indeed an L-39 that crashed. Read the news report.

What news report? All I see is the team reporting that he was killed in "a private airplane crash" on his way to VNY. Granted the Albatros is "a private airplane," but I don't think that's what they meant.

[Stoney]

goggle las vegas sun newspaper

[C VEICH]

What news report? All I see is the team reporting that he was killed in "a private airplane crash" on his way to VNY. Granted the Albatros is "a private airplane," but I don't think that's what they meant.

It does sound wierd that they would say "private airplane" rather than identify it as an L-39 but it was in fact an L-39. I suppose the fact that they perform in the L-39 might have provided them with some incentive to keep it quiet. I'm only surmising though.

http://m.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/may/ ... ane-crash/

[RareBear]

There were several articles in the Boulder City newspapers that identified the plane as an L-39. These were the news reports I referred to.

Walt

[lmritger]

I went to the news site expecting to see photos of a crater, but instead it appears the aircraft is relatively intact- starboard wing all bent up, airframe looks somewhat twisted but still, it clearly came down pretty level and slow enough not to disintegrate, and the seats appear to still be onboard (canopies are jettisoned though). In short, it looked like a pretty survivable event- I wonder if the pilot had a medical emergency?

My condolences go to his family and friends.

[JDK]

Thread needs a date, not 'Today' in the headline. ASAP, please, mods.

[Mark Allen M]

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Last edited by Mark Allen M on Sat Sep 08, 2012 2:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Anthony Svihlik]

Blue Skies and Tailwinds, Papa Bear.

Anthony