Mayor Eric Enriquez, City of Las Cruces | City of Las Cruces
Mayor Eric Enriquez, City of Las Cruces | City of Las Cruces
The pilot who died on Sunday, October 20, during the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo has been identified as Charles Thomas "Chuck" Coleman from California.
Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez stated, "Unfortunately, we had a tragic ending to our Air and Space Expo this weekend. There was an aircraft accident during Sunday’s performance that resulted in the death of pilot, Charles T. 'Chuck' Coleman." He added, "We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones and fans of Chuck Coleman."
Coleman was known as a skilled engineer and pilot with over 10,000 hours of flight time. He participated in numerous airshows and provided more than 3,000 aerobatic rides. Additionally, he worked as an aerobatic flight instructor for actors in the film "Top Gun: Maverick," flying over 100 flights to prepare them for scenes involving Navy F-18 Hornets.
The accident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. at Las Cruces International Airport and is under investigation by New Mexico State Police, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Spectators with photos or videos of the incident are encouraged to share them with the NTSB via their website.
The airport remains temporarily closed during the investigation, allowing only scheduled and emergency response flights.
Further updates will be provided by city officials as information becomes available.
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