Though aviation enthusiasts may have flown in droves to catch the EAA AirVenture convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin this past weekend, the air show ended in tragedy after two separate crashes claimed the lives of four people on Saturday, July 29.
The first crash occurred roughly around 9 a.m. when a vintage World War II T-6 Texan crashed into the nearby Lake Winnebago, spiraling down for roughly 3,000 feet before hitting the water below, according to the Coast Guard. The crash killed both the plane’s pilot, 30-year-old Devyn Reiley, who was the daughter of former San Francisco 49ers Offensive lineman Bruce Collie, and 20-year-old passenger Zach Colliemoreno.
It is with a heavy heart that we have to share the sad news that we unfortunately lost our beloved
— DXB MEDIA (@wizy_mos) July 30, 2023
Devyn Reiley
Devyn Reiley New Braunfels, TX, and other died in plane crash Oshkosh
To learn more https://t.co/OyUpjKIsxR pic.twitter.com/HNpnT3nCND
Roughly three hours after the accident that left attendees reeling, another disaster struck when two aircraft collided in mid-air. At around 12 p.m., a RotorWay 162F helicopter was hit from below by an ELA 10 Eclipse gyrocopter as the former vehicle was heading down for a landing. The incident left both 69-year-old Mark Peterson, who was flying the helicopter, and his passenger, 72-year-old Thomas Volz dead.
Officials ultimately decided that the show must go on, pushing back the starting time to 2:45 p.m., roughly two hours after the second crash.
Fly safe, aviator friends!
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