Utah resident remembers pilot killed in Dallas Air Show crash

SALT LAKE CITY — The former Utah man who tragically passed away in a deadly air show crash in Texas is being remembered by neighbors and friends.

Craig Provost lived near Dan and June Ragan for nearly 30 years and remembered Dan as a kind and loving man passionate about his work.

“He loved those air shows, and he participated in many of them,” Provost recalled.

He said Dan was a great pilot with love for the B-17 and was a great friend.

“He was always ready to provide what we needed,” Provost said.

Provost couldn’t believe his eyes when he watched the video of that crash in the skies over Texas on Nov. 12.

“Yeah. It was just crazy,” he recalled. “I did have a thought immediately, and I texted him to say, ‘Dan, you’re not there, are you.'”

Dan was there and was one of five people on board a B-17 Flying Fortress killed along with the pilot of a P-63 King Cobra.

‘The historic planes collided and crashed to the ground at the Wings Over Dallas airshow. NTSB officials have spent the past few weeks gathering evidence in a long, meticulous process to determine how and why this air tragedy happened.

While they are still looking for answers, a report released Wednesday shows a group of historic fighter planes was told to fly ahead of a formation of bombers without a prior plan for coordinating altitude. The report does not give the cause of the crash itself.

“It was just his passion,” Provost said.

When he didn’t hear back from Dan, he texted June.

“I then texted his wife and then heard back from her later that indeed he was in the crash,” Provost said.

He had just talked to his friend the day before, something he’s now thankful for.