Snowbird pilot dies in Montana crash

[Ediacara]

Source: The Globe and Mail

Canadian Press and Associated Press
May 18, 2007 at 10:04 PM EDT

A Canadian Forces Snowbird pilot was killed Friday when his jet crashed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana while rehearsing for performances this weekend.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the death in a release.

The crash occurred at 3:45 p.m. when a group of planes were practising manoeuvres above the base. One plane left the formation and "for some reason shortly thereafter pitched down and crashed," FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said.

Lieutenant Jeff Noel, a spokesman for 15 Wing Moose Jaw, said all the Snowbirds participating in the practice run in Montana were veterans, though he couldn't say exactly how many aircraft may have been in the air at the time of the incident.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070518.wsnowbird/BNStory/Front/home

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Malmstrom AFB is just out of Great Falls in north-central Montana.