Terrifying Top Gun Moment: Maverick Flight Instructor Charles Coleman’s Plane Hits the Ground

Terrifying footage captured a flight instructor’s final moments as his plane plummeted to the ground during an air show in New Mexico on Sunday.

Charles Thomas “Chuck” Coleman was flying the same Extra Flugzeugbau 300L two-seater that he used to train the cast of Top Gun: Maverick when it suddenly crashed around 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo in Las Cruces International. Airport.

For four minutes before, Coleman had expertly performed loops, rolls and Cuban maneuvers – frequently pulling straight up and hovering above the slopes with a stream of white smoke billowing behind him, reports the Las Cruces Bulletin.

A video taken by a passerby even shows Coleman flying straight into the air and doing a few rolls before the plane begins to fall uncontrollably nose-down to the ground.

He then disappeared behind a layer of desert brush, some distance from where the spectators were.

Charles Thomas “Chuck” Coleman was flying the same Extra Flugzeugbau 300L two-seater he used to train the cast of Top Gun: Maverick at an air show in New Mexico on Sunday when it crashed.

Video taken by a bystander even shows Coleman flying straight into the air and doing a few rolls before the plane begins to fall uncontrollably nose-down toward the ground.

“It was this big puff of dirt,” Blevins, who took the video, told the Earth Bulletin.

“And then I looked at the security guard next to me. I’m like, “Did he crash?” and she ran away.

A presenter in the video could then be heard telling viewers: “If you have social media, stay away for now.”

“We have emergency crews on the way,” the announcer could be heard telling those at the airshow. “We have fire crews on the way. »

The rest of the show was abruptly canceled following the accident, and Blevins said that after first responders arrived on the scene, concertgoers were instructed to leave the airport calmly.

Authorities finally announced Coleman’s death on Monday.

“We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones and fans of Chuck Coleman,” Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez said in a statement at the time.

Coleman (center) was the aerobatics instructor in the 2022 film Top Gun: Maverick, even training one of the lead actors, Miles Teller. Coleman had to complete more than 100 flights to prepare the actors to fly aboard U.S. Navy F-18 Hornets for the hit film.

Coleman’s website said he was based in California and was an engineer, aerobatic and test pilot with more than 10,000 flight hours.

He has performed in hundreds of aviation shows and completed more than 3,000 aerobatic plane flights, according to his website.

“He was one of the most talented pilots,” his friend Christopher Van Pelt told KFOX. “I think this loss really represents the loss of a mentor, the loss of a friend.”

Coleman and Van Pelt became friends in 2010 and instantly connected. They spent a lot of time together in the air.

“We spent a lot of time together. I can’t even count the number of hours we spent together in the air,” he told KFOX. “I absolutely loved working with Chuck.

“He was very knowledgeable and also very talented. but you know, when you’re on the edge, this kind of thing can happen no matter how good you are.

Actor Miles Teller paid tribute to flight instructor after news of his death

Van Pelt said Coleman’s resume was “up to the size of my body,” saying the flight instructor “must have worked on a ton of fascinating things.”

The friend remembers Coleman getting a “kick” when he was asked to join Top Gun: Maverick and work with Teller and others.

“It was something he really enjoyed. I’m just giving them their first experience before they go and shoot the movie,” he told KFOX.

Actor Miles Teller, who was one of the stars of Top Gun: Maverick and was featured on Coleman’s Instagram, also paid tribute to the flight instructor.

“Chuck was our aerobatic instructor and was instrumental in our preparation for Top Gun: Maverick,” he wrote on X. “He was an aerospace engineer, air show pilot and test pilot and our friend and ally.

“Chuck had a very laid back demeanor and we always felt comfortable with his expertise at our disposal.

“He was kind, humble and curious about other people and the world we live in,” Teller continued.

“Gone too soon, but his contributions will live on forever. Thanks for the memories, Chuck.

New Mexico State Police, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the crash that resulted in his death.