A father of two has died in what is being described as a horrific and bizarre freak accident, after being struck and fatally impaled by his own radio-controlled model plane.
The Fatal Incident at the Fairgrounds
The tragedy unfolded at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona. Roger Wallace, 60, was flying his 5ft-wide model aircraft when he momentarily lost sight of it in the glare of the sunlight. The plane, which weighed approximately 3 kilograms, then struck him with tremendous force.
The impact caused catastrophic injuries, including severe damage to his heart and one of his lungs. Roger lost consciousness immediately. Despite the desperate efforts of friends who rushed to his aid and performed first aid before emergency services arrived, he could not be saved. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A Safer Hobby Turns Tragic
Roger had been a dedicated member of the Southern Arizona Modelers radio-controlled airplane club for three years. Club President Jerry Knebel spoke to the Arizona Daily Star, emphasising the extraordinary nature of the event. "This was not a common thing," Knebel said. "This was just the freakiest of freak accidents that could possibly happen. No one can believe this. We can't believe it ourselves, and we've been doing this the past 30 years."
Ironically, Roger had turned to model aviation seeking a safer pastime. He had previously been involved in drag racing at a nearby strip. "He talked so often about how the flying was safer than the drag strip," Knebel recalled. "He came over because he thought our sport was the safer sport."
The club strictly followed safety guidelines from the Academy of Model Aeronautics and always had a designated safety officer present during flying sessions. "We pride ourselves on not having any accidents at all," Knebel noted. "We haven't had one in many, many years."
A Life Full of Laughter Cut Short
Roger, who had owned an auto parts store before selling it and working for the new owners, was contemplating retirement. His obituary remembered him as "a kind, loving, friendly man and so full of life and laughter." It added that he "will be greatly missed by all his friends and family."
This tragic incident follows another recent hobby-related aviation death. In September, Chinese aviation influencer Tang Feiji, 55, died in front of more than 1,000 live-stream viewers when his ultralight twin-rotor aircraft plunged into the ground in Jiange County.
