Victims identified in two EAA-related aircraft crashes

(Updated at 2:15 PM July 30, 2023)

OSHKOSH, WI — EAA officials release the names of four people killed in two separate aircraft crashes Saturday involving attendees at AirVenture 2023.  The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Communication Center received numerous 911 calls around 9:06 AM of a plane that crashed into Lake Winnebago.  The aircraft was identified as a T-6 Texan, single-engine, two person World War II era plane.  One body was pulled from the water just after first responders arrived.  The other was still in the submerged aircraft.  EAA spokesmen Dick Knapinski identified the two occupants Sunday afternoon.  They are 20-year-old Zach Colliemoreno, whose hometown was not identified, and 30-year-old Devyn Reilly of Guadalupe, Texas.  Efforts to recover the plane wreckage and the second body were still on-going as of 2:00 PM.

The victims of a midair collision at the south end of the EAA AirVenture grounds that occurred around 12:24 PM Saturday have been also been identified.  That crash involved a Rotorway 162F helicopter and an ELA 10 Eclipse gyrocopter.  The pilot of the helicopter and his passenger both died in the crash.  They’re identified as 69-year-old Mark Peterson of Foley, Alabama and 72-year-old Thomas Volz of Amelia, Ohio.  The pilot and passenger of the gyrocopter have not been identified but are hospitalized in stable condition.  The FAA and NTHSB have been on the EAA AirVenture grounds since opening day and are now investigating both crashes.

(Updated at 4:40 PM CST July 29,2023 Corrected initial report that the victims were a man and a woman)

UPDATE:  OSHKOSH, WI — EAA officials now say two people are dead and two injured following a mid air collision between two copters on the south end of the EAA AirVenture grounds.  At the same time, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office says both occupants of T-6 Texan aircraft killed in crash in Lake Winnebago.  One body recovered.  Victims identified as a man in his 20s and a man in his 30s.

(Reported at 4:34 PM CST July 29,2023)

OSHKOSH, WI — Local and federal authorities are investigating two separate aircraft crashes near Oshkosh Saturday.

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center began receiving multiple 911 calls around 9:06 A.M. of plane that crashed into Lake Winnebago.  The Winnebago County Marine Units with Dive Team members responded to the scene.  They were aided by fire departments from Oshkosh, Winneconne, Neenah-Menasha,  Calumet County Sheriff’s deputies, the Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary.   Rescue/recovery efforts were based at the Asylum Bay Boat Launch, which was closed to the public.

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office identifies the aircraft as a T-6 Texan, a World War II era, single engine plane.  The sheriff’s office also confirms that two people were aboard the aircraft.

At 12:24 PM, a mid air collision occurred at the south end of the EAA Airventure grounds at Wittman Regional Airport.  EAA spokesman Dick Knapinski, said in a written statement “At 12:24 p.m. Saturday, July 29, there was a mid-air accident involving two aircraft at the south end of the EAA AirVenture flightline at Wittman Regional Airport. EAA, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department, and Oshkosh Fire Department personnel responded immediately to the scene. Aircraft operations at Wittman were halted while the accident was initially investigated. The afternoon air show is now underway.”    The aircraft are identified as a Rotorway 162 homebuilt helicopter and a ELA 10 Eclipse gyrocopter.  Witnesses tell our media partner Action 2 News after the collision both copters landed on top of a parked aircraft. EAA, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department, and Oshkosh Fire Department personnel responded immediately to the scene.  No word on the conditions of those aboard the choppers has yet been released.  The crash is under investigation.

Both incidents took place on the closing weekend of EAA AirVenture.