Vicki Cruse

Vicki Cruse (December 13, 1967 – August 22, 2009) was an American aerobatic pilot and administrator. She won the U.S. national unlimited aerobatic title in 2007. She had been president of the International Aerobatic Club (IAC) since 2005 and was also an Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) director and board member.[1]

Cruse was a native of Springfield, Missouri and was shortlisted as one of the all-female slate of candidates in the Fossett LSR land speed record bid.[2] At the time of her death she lived in Santa Paula, California.

Cruse died on August 22, 2009, when her light plane, a borrowed Zivko Edge 540, registration N540BW, crashed onto the famous Silverstone Race Circuit at Buckinghamshire, England, during a qualifying flight for the World Aerobatic Championships. According to witnesses, having completed a vertical climb, she had pushed the nose over at the top in order to descend vertically. She then performed a one and one-quarter snap roll. The objective was to stop rotation after the aircraft has rolled one and one-quarter times, but rotation in this case only slowed, continuing to the ground. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigations after the crash explained that she being a very short person needed help with reaching the rudder pedals. The seat is not adjustable so blocks were added as extenders for her in most likely a very quick and shoddy way. During her routine, which she was a master of...most likely one of the blocks broke loose and she simply could not reach the rudder pedal.

[3][4][5]

References
  1. Gone West – Vicki Cruse
  2. Steve Fossett LSR Declares Driver Short-List
  3. Californian pilot dies at British air show
  4. Champion aerobatic pilot Vicki Cruse dies in air crash
  5. American woman dies during practice at World Aerobatic Championships
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