Pilot Chuck Coleman Killed in Airshow Crash

Experienced aviator had logged time in more than 100 types of aircraft and was a flight instructor for actors in 'Top Gun: Maverick.'

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 05:05 PM ET

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Pilot Charles Thomas "Chuck" Coleman was killed while performing in the 2024 Las Cruces Air & Space Expo. [Courtesy: City of Las Cruces]

Key Takeaways:

Charles "Chuck" Coleman, an experienced airshow pilot and flight instructor known for training actors in *Top Gun: Maverick*, was killed in an Extra Flugzeugbau EA300 crash during an event in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The accident, which occurred during the Las Cruces Air & Space Expo and was witnessed by many spectators, led to the cancellation of the remainder of the airshow.
Coleman had a distinguished aerospace career spanning over 35 years, including training SpaceShipOne pilots, serving as a senior designer for aircraft like the F-18, and accumulating 4,300 hours in the type of aircraft involved in the crash.
The incident is currently under investigation by the New Mexico State Police, FAA, and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

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Charles Thomas “Chuck” Coleman, an experienced airshow pilot who flight trained Top Gun: Maverick actors, was killed Sunday when his Extra Flugzeugbau EA300 crashed during an event in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

According to city officials, the accident happened during the Las Cruces Air & Space Expo at Las Cruces International Airport (KLRU). Coleman, 61, was the only person on board the aircraft.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.