Top Gun: Maverick flight instructor dies in plane crash

Charles T. “Chuck” Coleman, who worked with Tom Cruise as a flight instructor on Top Gun: Maverick, has died in a plane crash.

The aerobatic pilot took part in the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo air show in New Mexico on Sunday. He was flying a single-engine Extra Flugzeugbau 300/L when the tragedy occurred around 2:30 p.m., authorities said.

The city of Las Cruces paid tribute to Coleman on social media. They remembered Coleman as “a well-known and respected engineer, aerobatic pilot and test pilot with more than 10,000 flight hours.”

“Coleman was also an aerobatic instructor for actors in the 2022 film “Top Gun: Maverick,” where he flew more than 100 flights to prepare actors to fly in Navy F-18 Hornets,” it continued. The cast included Tom, Glen Powell and Miles Teller.

Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez said, “Unfortunately, our aerospace exhibition ended tragically this weekend.”

“During Sunday’s performance, an aircraft accident occurred, resulting in the death of pilot Charles T. “Chuck” Coleman. “We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and fans of Chuck Coleman.”

In tribute to Coleman, Teller wrote, “Chuck had a very easygoing manner and we always felt comfortable having his expertise at our disposal.”…Gone too soon, but his contributions will live on forever. “Thanks for the memories, Chuck.”

Las Cruces International Airport is temporarily closed and is being investigated by the New Mexico State Police, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. Viewers with photos or videos of the accident were asked to share them with the National Transportation Safety Board.

In an interview with the University of Michigan, where Coleman studied, he talked about what it was like working with Tom Cruise, who plays Captain Pete Mitchell.

“You develop a kind of friendship with them, and we noticed that aviation changes them,” he shared.

“On one of my flights with Tom we just talked the whole time about training and everything. He said to me, “Confidence is increasing for everyone.” So I’m just like, Wow, Tom Cruise is telling me that. It’s just incredible.”

Coleman was also the lead design engineer for the F/A-18 Hornet, which was used by NASA and the United States Navy. He began working at Tom Cruise’s School of Flying in October 2018 after trained pilot Cruise, 62, insisted that the Top Gun sequel use real footage of actors in F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets became.

During training, Coleman completed approximately 20 flights with each actor. “The main thing is that people are nervous when they first start flying, especially aerobics, and that’s not the look of Top Gun pilots.” I just try to talk to them and encourage them comfort because these are crazy things we do in a lot of people’s books.”

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