Pilot, Venom Jet Lost in Accident

July 22, 2018 - One person was killed and two were injured late Friday afternoon when a vintage de Havilland DH 112 Venom fighter jet crashed in a farm complex shortly after taking off from the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, along Lake Michigan southeast of Oshkosh.

The pilot, 50-year-old Martin Tibbitts of Grosse Point, Michigan, was flying the jet and was the lone occupant of the aircraft. Tibbitts was the president of the World Heritage Air Museum in Detroit, which features British jets from the 1950s through the 1970s.

According to the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department, Tibbitts was killed upon impact when the aircraft struck the ground on a farm near the airport. The jet then struck a farm building, injuring two workers and resulting in a fire that killed an estimated 40 to 50 cows. The NTSB and FAA are continuing to investigate the accident.

We at EAA were saddened to hear of the loss of life and injury that occurred in that accident. Our thoughts are with those involved and their families.

The aircraft was scheduled to take part in vintage jet and Royal Air Force centennial activities at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh beginning Monday, July 23.