US News

Two pilots killed when World War II-era plane crashes at Father’s Day event

By
Social Links for Ronny Reyes
Published June 16, 2024, 5:18 p.m. ET

Two pilots were killed when their World War II-era plane crashed at a California airport during a Father’s Day event.

Frank Wright, 67, the chief of operations at the Yanks Air Museum, was flying the twin-engine Lockheed 12A plane with his co-pilot Saturday afternoon when it plummeted from the sky and burst into flames at the Chino Airport, ABC 7 reported.

“Took a nose dive, and the first part of the plane that hit was the left wing, and that’s where the fuel was, I guess, and what happened was immediate explosion,” a witness to the crash told the outlet.

A World-War II-era twin-engine Lockheed 12A plane crashed at a Father's Day event in California's Chino Airport.
A World-War II-era twin-engine Lockheed 12A plane crashed at a Father’s Day event at California’s Chino Airport on Saturday. ABC7
Frank Wright, of the Yanks Air Museum, was one of two the pilots killed in the crash.
Frank Wright of the Yanks Air Museum was one of two the pilots killed in the crash. yanksair.org

The Chino Valley Fire District confirmed the deaths of Wright and his co-pilot, who was not immediately identified.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board said they are investigating the crash.

Yanks Air Museum officials said they were cooperating with the authorities on the case and added that their facilities would remain closed.

“Yanks Air Museum will be closed until further notice as our family deals with this tragedy, and we appreciate your patience and respect for our privacy as we navigate through this difficult time,” officials said in a statement.

Frank Wright, 67, served as the chief of operations at the Yanks Air Museum.
Wright, 67, served as the chief of operations at the museum. yanksair.org
The museum said it would remain closed as it works with federal investigators looking into the cause of the crash.
The museum said it would remain closed as it works with federal investigators looking into the cause of the crash. ABC7

Wright was a member of the Yanks Air Museum’s flight team, with fellow pilots mourning his loss in tribute posts on social media.

“I only [k]new Frank Wright for the last 10 years but he always had time to sit down and talk planes and flying with me and if I ever had a mechanical question on how to solve a DC-3 issue he would always help,” Gary Stark wrote on Facebook.

“He will be missed tremendously in the warbirds community,” Stark added.