ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Patty Wagstaff, a world-renowned flight instructor and stunt pilot, was injured Wednesday aboard a small plane that overturned during a landing at the Northeast Florida Regional Airport in St. Augustine, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The plane, a 1958 Beech K35, had landed and was taxiing when it went off the runway and flipped in the grass median, troopers said.
The Highway Patrol said a 59-year-old man who was also on the plane was not hurt. An earlier report incorrectly stated four people were on the plane.
Wagstaff's injuries were said to be minor. After the accident, she posted a message on Twitter saying the plane had a mechancial issue:
We had a mechanical problem in our V Tail Bonanza after landing a St Augustine this evening. People have been asking and I wanted to let everyone know that my passenger (one of our instructors) are doing fine.
— Patty Wagstaff (@pattyaerobatics) September 11, 2019
According to Wagstaff's website, the pilot is a six-time member of the US Acrobatic Team. She's won the gold, silver and bronze medals in the Olympic-level international aerobatic competition. Wagstaff is also the first woman to win the title of U.S. National Aerobatic champion.
Back in 2016, News4Jax reporter Erik Avanier floew with Wagstaff during the WIngs Over North Georgia Air Show. She spoke about her passion for flying ever since she was a little girl.
"It was just natural," Wagstaff said in 2016. "Aviation was always a comfortable place to be."
It's unclear exactly what the issue was that caused the plane to veer into the median.