A tragic incident occurred at a California airport on Father’s Day when two pilots lost their lives during a crash of a World War II-era plane. Frank Wright, 67, the chief of operations at the Yanks Air Museum, and his co-pilot were flying a Lockheed 12A plane when it took a nose dive and burst into flames upon impact. The left wing hit first where the fuel was stored, resulting in an immediate explosion that claimed the lives of both pilots.
Witnesses described the scene as horrific, with many reporting that they heard the sound of screeching tires and saw smoke billowing from the wreckage. The Chino Valley Fire District confirmed the fatalities of Wright and his co-pilot, whose identity was not immediately released.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are conducting an investigation into the crash. Yanks Air Museum officials have stated that they are cooperating with authorities and have closed their facilities temporarily while the case is being investigated.
Frank Wright’s colleagues and fellow pilots have expressed their grief over his passing, with members of the Yanks Air Museum’s flight team paying tribute to him on social media. The museum has announced that it will remain closed as they work with federal investigators to determine the cause of the crash.
