The pilot who tragically lost his life in a crash at a New Mexico air show over the weekend has been identified as Charles Thomas “Chuck” Coleman of California. The City of Las Cruces provided an update on Monday afternoon, Oct. 21, confirming the pilot’s identity.
Coleman, a highly regarded aviator with thousands of flight hours, died during the air show portion of the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo on Sunday at the Las Cruces International Airport. Following the accident, the airport remains closed until further notice, according to city officials.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic ending to our Air and Space Expo this weekend,” said Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez. “An aircraft accident during Sunday’s performance claimed the life of pilot Charles T. ‘Chuck’ Coleman. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones and the many fans who admired him.”
Chuck Coleman was an esteemed engineer, aerobatic, and test pilot, amassing more than 10,000 flight hours over the course of his career. He had performed at hundreds of air shows and provided over 3,000 aerobatic flights, the City of Las Cruces noted. Additionally, Coleman was the aerobatic flight instructor for actors in the 2022 film Top Gun: Maverick, where he flew more than 100 flights to prepare the cast for their roles flying Navy F-18 Hornets.
The fatal accident occurred at around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday at Las Cruces International Airport. The incident is now under investigation by New Mexico State Police, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Officials are asking spectators who may have captured photos or videos of the crash to share them with the NTSB through its website to assist with the investigation.
In the meantime, the Las Cruces International Airport is temporarily closed for the duration of the initial investigation. Only scheduled and emergency response flights are permitted during this closure.
