Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Thunder Organizer: Deadly Crash Won't Halt Future Air Shows

MARTINSBURG -- Story By Christine Miller Ford

Despite the deadly crash Sept. 17 at the Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Air Show, Eastern Panhandle residents want to see the event continue, its key organizer said this week.

"I'm not sure when it's going to be, but there will be another air show in Martinsburg," Nic Diehl said.

Since the crash, Diehl said he's gotten a flood of notes, calls, e-mails and Facebook posts expressing support and concern for the family of the pilot who died. The messages also offer support for the show's co-host, the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia National Guard.

"Our community has always rallied to support the event, and now this tragedy has them rallying to show their empathy for everyone involved," Diehl said. "It's been very touching to see."

Organizers sent spectators home and called off the rest of the two-day air show following the 2:35 p.m. Sept. 17 crash at the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport that killed John "Jack" Mangan, a 54-year-old stunt pilot from North Carolina.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived on the scene early Sept. 18. A preliminary report on the crash of the 1950s-era T-28 Warbird is expected sometime next week, NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said Sept. 20.

After a chilly morning rain delayed Thunder's opening ceremonies, the air show had been under way for just a few hours when the crash occurred. The crash and the following explosion left the crowd stunned and silent.

The audience watching when the crash happened was smaller than at last year's air show and open house, which over two days brought some 80,000 spectators to Martinsburg.

The day before the Panhandle crash, a pilot and eight others were killed during an air race in Reno, Nev. More than 60 people on the ground were sent to the hospital.

Mangan, of Cornelius, N.C., was killed following an acrobatic maneuver with the Trojan Horsemen flight demonstration team.

He was one of six pilots taking part in the team's Salute to the Armed Forces, which has as its finale a "bomb burst," a synchronized pyrotechnic display that creates a wall of fire.

According to his obituary, Mangan, a Boston native, graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1979. After retiring from the Air Force, he owned a successful restaurant business. A mass and funeral service for him is set for Sept. 23 in Huntersville, N.C.

"We were fortunate that the safety measures put in place by the Federal Aviation Administration ensured the safety of those on the ground," said Major Gen. James Hoyer, adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard. "Right now our thoughts and prayers are with the family members of the deceased."

As in the Nevada crash, the plane that crashed in Martinsburg was a restored propeller-driven military aircraft manufactured just after World War II.

Martinsburg resident Dave Heatwole had never seen an air show before. When the Trojan Horsemen team began its performance, he was taking photos from a seat near the barrier fence, about 30 yards in front of where emergency crews were set up.

He photographed the Trojan Horsemen planes as they took off three at a time and then as four of the planes flew in formation away from the air field. Next, the remaining pair began an acrobatic display, creating smoke trails in front of the crowd.

"The two planes formed an 'X' and appeared to be very close to each other, which startled me," Heatwole said. "And then the plane flying to the right crashed. I heard the boom, and looked over to see an exploding fireball. The plane was blown into many small pieces, and the fire was burning. It [immediately] appeared that the pilot's chances of survival were not good."

Heatwole said he is left questioning the wisdom of holding such shows.

"I wonder if the risk is really worth it. I'd just seen someone get killed, all for the sake of entertainment, and no other good reason."

Others argue that thanks to its partnership with the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle -- with visitors encouraged to make a $10 donation to the United Way as they pass through the gates onto the air base -- Thunder Over the Blue Ridge does provide more than mere entertainment.

Last year, Thunder brought in more than $100,00 in donations for the United Way to use for local charities and non-profits. Last year was the first for the Thunder Over the Blue Ridge air show, although a similar event called the Spirit of America air show dates to 2005.

Besides his work with the non-profit Thunder Over the Blue Ridge Inc., Diehl works as a business consultant with Workforce West Virginia in Martinsburg. He began planning the 2011 festival even before last year's event.

Before coming to Martinsburg, the Beckley native served as the executive director of United Way of Southern West Virginia. He said the air show and open house is important to the community because it gives the region a chance to shine.

"As someone who's from southern West Virginia, I know all about the negative stereotypes that get attached to our state. That's one of the reasons the air show is such a good thing for our community," he said. "The air show is the perfect opportunity to showcase West Virginia -- that's what's driven this from the beginning."

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