Pilot Dies After World War I Replica Plane Catches on Fire, Crashes in Upstate New York

A pilot flying a World War I replica plane in upstate New York died on Saturday, Oct. 5 after it caught on fire and crashed.

Brian T. Coughlin, a longtime volunteer and board member of the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome museum in Red Hook, N.Y, was flying a replica of a WWI Fokker D-VIII during an airshow when it “went down off the south end of the runway,” the museum said in a statement.

An initial investigation by the Red Hook Police Department, which was dispatched to the scene at approximately 2:58 p.m., showed that “unknown mechanical issues” caused the engine to catch fire and crash.

Coughlin, 60, was the sole occupant on the plane and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) confirmed on X that it is investigating the crash.

“Until their investigations conclude, we have no further information. We ask all to respect Brian’s memory by not speculating about his death,” the museum added in its statement.

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The Aerodrome canceled its upcoming ghost tours and air show on Saturday, Oct. 12, to attend Coughlin’s memorial service.

Coughlin’s biography on the museum’s website describes him as someone who was “involved with the Aerodrome most of his adult life, in many capacities,” due to growing up around vintage aircraft.

“He’s built several Fokker Triplane replicas, a Fokker DVIII replica, and restored so many other vintage flying machines that we’ve lost count. Recently he’s been instrumental in returning our Bleriot XII, Hanriot, SPAD VII, and Fokker Triplane to the flightline,” his biography adds.

According to Syracuse.com, Coughlin often flew antique planes from an airstrip in his backyard and previously crashed in 2005 while flying a replica 1915 Nieuport 11 with its original engine in Dutchess County.

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The plane crashed in a field about 2,500 feet away from where it took off after it lost power, leaving Coughlin needing to be transported to a hospital with injuries that he succumbed to.