From a New York Daily News story: “It was too powerful, too sophisticated, too much plane for him.” Diana Munson, Thurman Munson’s wife was quoted as saying: “People who knew anything about flying and aviation knew this was nuts.” And it was said that the New York Yankees catcher and team captain didn’t plan on keeping his Citation.
As a pilot, Munson had 516 total hours, 33 in the Citation, and had had a type rating for 16 days when, on August 2, 1979, at about 4 o’clock on a nice afternoon, he was on approach, too low, too slow and not quick enough on the power. The two passengers he was taking for a ride in his new jet survived. Thurman Munson did not and his demise set the stage for endless discussions on the subject of rich guys who can afford jets flying those jets without a copilot.
