Official: Pilot dies in crash during performance at airshow

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Sunday, May 15, 2016
(image courtesy Juan Rios/YouTube)
image courtesy Juan Rios/YouTube

ATLANTA, Ga. -- A pilot was killed Saturday when his biplane crashed while performing a stunt at a metro Atlanta airshow.

The pilot crashed and died while flying in tandem with another plane during an aerial acrobatics stunt Saturday afternoon at the Good Neighbor Day Open House Airshow at DeKalb Peachtree Airport, said DeKalb County Public Information Officer Sheira Campbell. The airport is about 11 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta

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The pilot was the only one aboard the plane when it crashed at 4:49 p.m., DeKalb County spokesman Burke Brennan said in an emailed statement. It was the first accident in 30 years of the PDK Good Neighbor Day Airshow, Brennan said.

Campbell said the pilot will not be identified until his next of kin are notified. Campbell also said there were no other injuries on the ground and there was no other damage other than the aircraft.

She said the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration were both on the scene and investigating.

In a news release, DeKalb County Interim CEO Lee May said, "A tragedy occurred as professional pilots entertained and educated thousands today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the pilot who lost his life."

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