Cincinnati pilot who performed in Dayton Air Show dies in crash in Virginia

A veteran Cincinnati pilot, who has performed at the Dayton Air Show, was killed when his homebuilt plane crashed during an aerobatic, night-time performance in an air show in Culpeper, Virginia Friday, Virginia State Police told our partners at WCPO.

Jon Thocker’s plane hit the ground during the Culpeper Air Fest at Culpeper Regional Airport around 8:10 p.m.

Thocker was performing with his friend and long-time flying partner Ken Rieder of Cincinnati when the crash happened.

>>VIDEO:  Aerobatic pilots fly homebuilt planes at Dayton Air Show

No one on the ground was injured and the FAA, NTSB and state police are investigating the cause.

Thocker and Rieder had been flying together under the name of Redline Airshows for more than 12 years, according to the Redline Airshows website. They were performing their signature night flight that included trails of fireworks shooting from the planes’ wings.

>>Airshow: Redline Flight Team   |  

>>Airshow: More Redline Aerobatic team

The team performed at the Dayton Air Show June 23 and 24.

Thocker’s homebuilt plan he flew Friday was registered with the FAA on Oct. 2, 2017 and is listed as amateur-built and experimental. He had built 10 custom planes, according to WCPO.

Those who knew Thocker are expressing their condolences on social media.