[JYO] Nancy Lunn - Rest In Peace

 
Maryland woman killed as she performed stunts during  Culpeper's Air Fest 
Saturday 


A Saturday afternoon airplane crash at Culpeper Regional  Airport claimed the 
life of Nancy Lynn, 50, of Annapolis. A 30-year veteran of  the aviation 
industry, Lynn was killed during a solo acrobatic performance at  Culpeper Air 
Fest 2006. Piloting her Extra 300L stunt plane, Lynn went into a  series of 
flat 
spin maneuvers as she crossed the airport runway in front of  hundreds of 
spectators. But as she neared the ground to exit the stunt, the left  wingtip 
came 
in contact with the ground, flipping the plane and sending it over  an 
embankment. The upside down aircraft, spewed jet fuel around the scene,  
causing a 
large fire. County Administrator Frank Bossio and Lynn's 18-year old  son Peter 
an announcer during Lynn's act  were the first to arrive at the scene.  "I 
could see the plane didn't have enough altitude for the maneuver that it was  
performing," Bossio said. "When I saw that it wasn't going to make it, I just  
darted for the runway." Upon arrival, Bossio attempted to flip the airplane to  
an upright position and pull Lynn from the cockpit, but, she was trapped 
inside.  Less than two minutes after the crash, members of the Brandy Station 
Volunteer  Fire Department were able to extradite Lynn from the burning 
aircraft. 
She was  transported by helicopter to the University of Virginia Medical 
Center with  burns over 90 percent of her body. At approximately 11:30 p.m., 
Lynn 
was  pronounced dead. Bossio was transported to Culpeper Regional Hospital 
where he  was treated for second degree burns to his hands. He was released 
Saturday  evening. "It's a very sad day," Bossio said. "Nancy was a great 
pilot, she 
had  great credentials." Together, Peter and Nancy formed the only mother and 
son duo  currently performing in National air shows. Nancy began her 
acrobatic career in  1988, and performed at dozens of air shows each year. She 
also 
was owner and  operator of Lynn Aviation Inc. The company consists of three 
separate  departments, Nancy Lynn Air Shows, Lynn Aviation Aerobatic Flight 
Training, and  Nancy Lynn Motivational Speaking. This is the third tragedy to 
strike 
Lynn  Aviation. In the early 1990's, Lynn's husband Scott Muntean lost an eye 
and  broke his jaw as the couples plane nose-dived into the ground at Bay 
Bridge  Airport near Annapolis. He later died from brain cancer in 2000. The 
other  occurred in the fall of 2003, when Lynn's business partner Mark Damisch 
was 
 killed in an accident while performing stunts in Maryland. As for Saturday's 
 occurrence, it was the first incident in the 10-year history of Culpeper's  
Airfest. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation  
Administration are investigating the crash to determine the cause. The 2006  
Airfest was canceled at 1:30 p.m. and the airport remained closed until 7:30  
p.m. As for the effect this incident will have on future air shows in Culpeper, 
 
Bossio says, "It's a little early to speculate, but I think they will 
continue.  It's unfortunate, but sometimes these things happen."

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