Pilot Dies After World War I Replica Plane Catches on Fire, Crashes in Upstate New York

Mar. 15, 2025

Brian T. Coughlin.Photo:youtube

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A pilot flying a World War I replica plane in upstate New York died on Saturday, Oct. 5 after it caught on fire and crashed.

Brian T. Coughlin, a longtime volunteer and board member of theOld Rhinebeck Aerodromemuseum in Red Hook, N.Y, was flying a replica of a WWI Fokker D-VIII during an airshow when it “went down off the south end of the runway,” the museum said in astatement.

Stock photo of a fire truck.Getty

Coughlin, 60, was the sole occupant on the plane and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) confirmed onXthat it is investigating the crash.

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The Aerodrome canceledits upcoming ghost toursandair show on Saturday, Oct. 12, to attend Coughlin’s memorial service.

Coughlin’s biography on the museum’swebsitedescribes him as someone who was “involved with the Aerodrome most of his adult life, in many capacities,” due to growing up around vintage aircraft.

“He’s built several Fokker Triplane replicas, a Fokker DVIII replica, and restored so many other vintage flying machines that we’ve lost count. Recently he’s been instrumental in returning our Bleriot XII, Hanriot, SPAD VII, and Fokker Triplane to the flightline,” his biography adds.

According toSyracuse.com, Coughlin often flew antique planes from an airstrip in his backyard and previously crashed in 2005 while flying a replica 1915 Nieuport 11 with its original engine in Dutchess County.

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The plane crashed in a field about 2,500 feet away from where it took off after it lost power, leaving Coughlin needing to be transported to a hospital with injuries that he succumbed to.

source: people.com