Jim LeRoy Crashes at Dayton Air Show 2007 Saturday July 28, 2007
After airport fire trucks put out the blaze, LeRoy was airlifted out of the crash site by a Black Hawk helicopter, which had been on medical standby for the show. After the crash, the air show's announcer (also a pastor) led the crowd in a prayer for Jim's survival and healing. LeRoy unfortunately died on impact. The portion of the show was just prior to when the Thunderbirds would have flown, who stepped down to allow airport security and the TSA and FAA to conduct their investigation. Videos of the crash were requested by the agencies. The show was then closed for the day, to allow the investigation to continue, and airport police stood by to "remove cars as fast as possible". "The recipient of the 2002 Art Scholl Showmanship Award and the 2003 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship, Jim LeRoy is one of only eleven performers ever to receive both of these highly prestigious honors. His entertaining flying style coupled with his dynamic personality and tireless energy has made Jim one of the most recognized performers in the history of the business. Jim is one of only a handful of full time "stunt pilots" in the world and actually makes his living by performing for air show audiences, world-wide." -From Jim's site
Wikipedia on Jim LeRoy Jim LeRoy (d. 28 July 2007) was an American aerobatics pilot. A former US Marine Corps Scout/Sniper, he held a B.S. degree in Aeronautical/Aerospace engineering as well as an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license. LeRoy was one of only eleven pilots ever to be awarded both the Art Sholl Showmanship Award (2002) and the Bill Barber Award for Showmanship (2003). He was also one of only a handful of full time air show pilots in the world who actually made his living by performing for air show audiences. LeRoy also held the following pilot ratings: single-engine, multi-engine, airplane instructor, helicopter, helicopter instructor, instrument instructor and aerobatic competency evaluator. He died Saturday afternoon July 28, 2007 after failing to pull his plane out of an aerobatic dive and crashing around 2:15PM EST at the Vectren Dayton Air Show at the Dayton International Airport during a performance with the X-Team Codename: Mary's Lamb aerobatics team. The Montgomery County coroner's office concluded Sunday that LeRoy, 46, of Lake City, Fla., died instantly in the crash. "He hit the ground at 200 mph. He fractured his neck. He was dead at the time of impact," said coroner's director Ken Betz. LeRoy, who studied aeronautical engineering at the University of Illinois and worked for GE Aircraft Engines after graduation as a design engineer, took up full-time flying in 1997. He was performing Saturday in a two-plane act named "Codename: Mary's Lamb" when the crash occurred at 2:42 p.m. The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting the investigation in the crash. On Sunday, air show acts paid tribute to LeRoy, described by announcer Rob Reider as "our friend, our colleague, our buddy." Perhaps the most poignant moment of Sunday's show came when Reider introduced the aerobatics routine of LeRoy's partner, Skip Stewart, who was flying in a separate plane Saturday when LeRoy crashed. "It's a sad, sad day for us," Reider said, his voice breaking with emotion. "Jim LeRoy lost his life here. We don't know the cause (of the crash), and it's not important to know. We just want to celebrate the life of Jim LeRoy." He said LeRoy broke with his usual practice of disassembling his Pitts Bulldog II biplane and trucking it. Instead, he flew the plane cross-country to the Dayton Air Show and told a friend the flight to Dayton was a reminder of the thrill he took in flying. Of LeRoy's aerobatic skills, Reider said: "He did things that airplanes are just not supposed to do." Reider said a scholarship fund is to be established this week for LeRoy's 4-year-old son, Tommy. Air show sponsor Vectren has already pledged to contribute. Stewart declined to be interviewed, but he put on an astounding show in honor of his lost colleague. The act included rolls of the airplane, a "race" with a jet-powered truck and a trick in which Stewart flew near the ground to slice ribbons with the edge of his plane's wings. "(Saturday) was a very hard day," Emoff said. "You just don't expect it's going to happen to you." |
