Charles T. Coleman Obituary, Death – The pilot who tragically lost his life in a plane crash during the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo has been identified as Charles T. “Chuck” Coleman. Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez conveyed the somber news during a City Council meeting on Monday, stating, “We had a tragic ending at our Air and Space Expo this weekend. There was an aircraft accident during Sunday’s performance that resulted in the death of pilot Charles T. ‘Chuck’ Coleman.” He expressed condolences to Coleman’s family, friends, and fans.
Following the accident, Las Cruces International Airport has been closed until further notice as investigations are underway. Airport Director Andrew Hume announced, “The only flights allowed will be emergency response medevacs, and any performers and racers that are returning home.” He acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the airport’s closure and assured the public that it would reopen as soon as safety was confirmed.
The crash occurred on Sunday, October 20, during the Air and Space Expo, and New Mexico State Police confirmed that only the pilot was aboard the aircraft. According to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a single-engine Extra Flugzeugbau 300/L crashed around 2:30 p.m. local time, approximately half a mile west of the Las Cruces International Airport. The FAA stated that both it and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would investigate the incident, with the NTSB taking the lead.
The NTSB also released a statement, clarifying that their investigation focuses on an Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA 300/L airplane that crashed while performing aerobatics at the expo. They urged witnesses or anyone with relevant surveillance video or information to reach out to them via email at witness@ntsb.gov.
Both the New Mexico State Police and the FAA are collaborating with the NTSB in the ongoing investigation. Las Cruces Police Department spokesman Dan Trujillo confirmed the crash occurred around 2:30 p.m. near the airport, and authorities are now working to uncover the details surrounding the accident.
As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of Chuck Coleman, and the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo faces an uncertain future as safety protocols are reassessed following this tragic event.