MISSISSIPPI - A small plane crash Tuesday evening in Jackson killed three Mississippi Wing members - Col. John E. Tilton Jr., former member of Civil Air Patrol's Board of Governors and Alabama Wing and Southeast Region commander; the Mississippi Wing's standardization/evaluation officer, Lt. Col. David Williams; and Capt. William C. Young, finance officer for the Maj. James McKinnie Composite Squadron.
The Piper A-32 the three men were flying in crashed in a residential area shortly after takeoff about 5:10 p.m. from Hawkins Field Airport, according to authorities. The plane wasn't part of CAP's fleet, and the men weren't on a CAP mission; they were headed to a FAA safety meeting in Raymond, Miss., about 30 miles away.
Col. John E. Tilton Jr., Lt. Col. David Williams and Capt. William C. Young, were killed in the crash.
"The CAP family is deeply saddened by this tremendous loss," said Col. Carlton Sumner, Mississippi Wing commander. "These fine men served selflessly in the military and/or in CAP. Their legacy will be marked by tireless service, devotion to duty and with great personal integrity and character. They touched innumerable lives as friends, business associates, mentors, instructors and leaders."
SER Officers Awards, Col Tilton center-2006
Tilton served as Alabama Wing commander from April 2002-February 2006 and as Southeast Region commander from February-October 2006, then as national safety officer from October 2006-December 2007. He served as an at-large member of CAP's Board of Governors from August 2007-November 2009.
He was an experienced aviator, having flown as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army, where he retired as a lieutenant colonel and held FAA qualifications as a certified flight instructor. Tilton was a professional pilot based at the Birmingham Airport before he moved to MS.
Williams, who also served as the McKinnie squadron's operations and standardization/evaluation officer, joined CAP in August 1994. He was 69.
He previously served as the wing's vice commander, chief of staff and director of operations.
Williams' aviation credentials included military service as an Air Force F-101 fighter pilot, and he held FAA qualifications as a certified flight instructor.
Young joined CAP in May 2011. He was 78. His aviation credentials also included qualifications as an FAA certified flight instructor.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are investigating the crash. -CAP