Air Show Crash Leaves Pilot Dead

A World War II-vintage airplane crashed before thousands of spectators at an air show Saturday, killing the pilot.

The plane crashed less than 150 yards from stands where an estimated 13,000 people watched the Sertoma Cajun Air Festival. None of the spectators was injured.

The pilot, whose identity was not released, was doing a barrel roll when the North American AT-6 trainer veered hard to the left, hit the ground at a 45-degree angle, then landed belly down in the middle of the runway, a witness said. No one else was in the plane.

The crowd was cleared off the stands about 45 minutes later.