Canadian Snowbirds pilot Capt. Shawn McCaughey was killed Friday when his jet crashed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, the Canadian military announced. He died instantly when the jet burst into flames as it slammed into the ground.
McCaughey, 31, of Candiac, Quebec, was in a group of five planes that were rehearsing above the base when his aircraft suddenly veered off. Gillian Scarber witnessed the plane go down while she was driving into Great Falls, Montana, “It just smacked into the ground, and there was a big ball of flames. Smoke drifted across the highway as emergency crews raced to the scene,” she said.
Col. Richard Foster, the commander of 15 Wing, said McCaughey was a fine pilot and a top military officer. “He was a very professional pilot,” Foster said at a news conference at the base in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, the home base of the aerobatic squadron. “I knew him before he became an instructor here in Moose Jaw. He was very jovial, very caring. He did his job very well. He was a very credible pilot and a good friend. The team will take an operational pause to remember Shawn McCaughey like we need to, and then we will go back and do the rest of the show season,” he said.
While McCaughey was a former flight instructor with 1,400 hours of flying time, he was the first Snowbird pilot to have no previous experience on the CT-114 Tutor jet. He joined the Canadian Forces in 2000 after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Geography from Concordia University in Montreal. He also held a civilian commercial pilot’s license. McCaughey was is in his second year with the Snowbirds and flew in the No. 2 jet in the Inner Right Wing position. His father Ken McCaughney said his son was supposed to get married next month in Montreal and that Saturday was his fiance’s birthday.
A team of Canadian military officers will travel to Montana Saturday to investigate the accident, said Maj. Robert Mitchell, the commanding officer of the Snowbirds. Mitchell said the loss of their comrade has shaken the tight-knit squadron. “Our thoughts, prayers and sincerest condolences are with Shawn’s family,” he said. “Our priority at this time is to provide support for Shawn’s family. Our team is devastated and we miss him.”
The team was scheduled to perform Saturday and Sunday in Great Falls at Malmstrom’s open house and sport auto-rama. An event organizer said the open house would continue as scheduled.
In total, six Snowbird pilots have died in air crashes since 1972.
Here’s a list of crashes and accidents involving the Canadian Forces Snowbirds aerobatic team:
May 18, 2007 — The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration confirms that a Canadian Forces Snowbird pilot was killed when his jet crashed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.
Aug. 24, 2005 — Capt. Andy Mackay of Orleans, Ont. walked away after ejecting from his plane. A report by the Department of National Defence said the cause was “catastrophic engine failure.”
Dec. 10, 2004 — Capt. Miles Selby died in a fiery collision with Capt. Chuck Mallet during a training session near Moose Jaw, Sask. Mallet survived.
June 21, 2001 — Two planes collided while preparing for an air show near Port Burwell, Ont. No injuries.
September 2000 — Two jets sustained minor damage when the wing of one aircraft grazed the tail of another on the way to an air show. The pilots were not injured.
Dec. 10, 1998 — Capt. Michael VandenBos, 29, died after ejecting when his jet collided with another aircraft.
1997 — Two Snowbirds touched wingtips over Glen Falls, N.Y., but no one was injured.
1994 — Two pilots ejected near Moose Jaw, Sask., sustaining minor injuries.
1992 — Two pilots ejected safely after a collision near Bagotville, Que.
1992 — Plane crashed near CFB Moose Jaw due to failed engine bearing. No injuries.
1991 — Jet crashed near CFB Moose Jaw during routine training flight. Both pilots escaped serious injury.
1989 — Capt. Shane Antaya, 24, killed when plane crashed into Lake Ontario during air show in Toronto.
1978 — Capt. Gordon de Jong, 32, killed during air show in Grande Prairie, Alta.
1972 — Capt. Lloyd Waterer, 24, killed during air show in Trenton, Ont.
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