World War I–Era Plane Crash Kills Pilot

A pilot was killed Saturday at a popular New York state air show after a replica World War I fighter plane crashed and caught fire.
The crash occurred at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, a vintage aviation museum that stages weekend airshows in the town of Red Hook, which is about 80 miles north of Manhattan. The pilot, identified as Brian Coughlin of Cazenovia, New York, was flying a replica of a Fokker D.VIII, a famous German monoplane from the First World War.
The plane’s engine apparently caught fire because of unknown mechanical problems during the performance, according to the Red Hook Police Department. This led to the plane crashing and bursting into flames.
The air show was paused following the incident as emergency responders rushed to the scene. Coughlin was the sole occupant of the aircraft and was pronounced dead soon afterward.
A longtime volunteer and board member at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Coughlin, 60, had a long history of flying antique aircraft.
The aerodrome expressed condolences on social media, praising him as a dedicated member. The post described him as an integral part of the air shows and the local aviation community.
This was not the first time Coughlin had been in a plane crash.
In 2005, he survived a crash caused by engine failure while piloting a replica of a French World War I plane, according to Syracuse.com. Despite that incident, Coughlin remained passionate about aviation, frequently flying antique planes from his backyard airstrip.
Saturday’s crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. Both agencies are working to determine the exact cause of the mechanical failure that led to the crash. A full report will likely take months to complete.
“We ask all to respect Brian’s memory by not speculating about his death,” representatives for the aerodrome said in a statement.
The aerodrome was founded in 1959 and is known for its historical aircraft, with many planes dating back to the early 20th century. The aerodrome’s air shows, held every Saturday between June and October, feature vintage aircraft in flight, and many planes are replicas of iconic World War I models.
In July, a midair disruption at a summer event led to a nonfatal crash during an air show. Both pilots involved survived the collision, one landing at the aerodrome, the other crashing in a wooded area nearby.
Following Saturday’s fatality, all scheduled events at the aerodrome, from October 11 to 25, have been canceled. The aerodrome expressed its gratitude to the public for its “understanding at this very difficult time.”
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.