A private jet owned by Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe experienced a landing gear failure, leading to a tragic accident at Scottsdale Airport.
The incident resulted in the death of the co-pilot and injuries to three others, including Neil’s girlfriend, Rain Hannah. Vince Neil was not aboard the plane at the time of the crash.
Initial reports from the City of Scottsdale indicate that the Learjet’s left main landing gear collapsed during landing, causing the jet to collide with a parked aircraft.
Emergency personnel from Scottsdale Fire Station 609 responded swiftly to the scene, arriving within one minute. The collision involved Neil’s jet striking a parked Gulfstream jet.
Fox 10 Phoenix reported that debris from the Learjet was scattered approximately 100 yards from the crash site. The co-pilot who lost his life was identified as 78-year-old Joie Vitosky. Vitosky had a long history in aviation, starting as a Marine Corps aviator.
Ann Vitosky, Joie’s ex-wife, shared that he flew helicopters in Vietnam in 1969 and later piloted Learjets after his Marine Corps service. She expressed that he died doing what he loved most.
The crash occurred at 2:39 p.m. local time, according to local authorities.
Video footage captured the Learjet skidding along the tarmac before colliding with the parked Gulfstream. The impact was so intense that it lifted the front of the larger jet off the ground.
Scottsdale Aviation Director Gary P. Mascaro extended condolences and praised the swift response of first responders.
Scottsdale Fire Capt. Dave Folio confirmed that one individual was trapped in the wreckage but was successfully rescued and taken to a trauma center. Rain Hannah sustained five broken ribs, and two dogs on board survived the crash. Rescue crews managed to separate the two aircraft later that day.
Images from the scene revealed severe damage to the Learjet, with the cockpit area significantly impacted.
Aviation veteran Gordon Johnson witnessed the front landing gear’s collapse, leading to the jet veering off the runway. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the crash involved a jet arriving from Austin, Texas.
The jet is registered to Chromed in Hollywood, Inc, a company linked to Vince Neil. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the incident.
Scottsdale Airport reopened the runway at 10:38 p.m. after the crash.
3 Comments
Did you just say, “78”??!!
I ran heavy equipment in NY a Union for 36 years, we don’t even make it to, “78” nevermind running a dangerous piece of machinery!
This sounds ridiculous!
Have a friend who had a landing gear failure on his first flight after the Annual.
He is a great pilot and survived with minimal damage to the plane.
There’s nothing more nauseating than seeing old rockers, still living in the past, who can’t come to grips with their age, like Neil and Madonna. Ewwwwww.