Air Racing legend Sherman Smoot died Sept. 2, 2022, when his highly-modified Yak-11, “Czech Mate,” crashed near Shafter Airport-Minter Field (KMIT) in California during a test flight in anticipation of the upcoming Reno Air Races. He was 74.
President of the Unlimited Class at the races, many in the racing community said Smoot was an “odds-on favorite to win gold this year.”
The NTSB is investigating the crash, which happened shortly after takeoff from KMIT.
According to local news reports in Shafter, California, witnesses told first responders from the Kern County Fire Department the plane sounded like it was experiencing engine trouble. Smoot tried to turn the plane around when it crashed into a field half a mile northwest of Minter Field.
A fighter pilot for the Navy during the Vietnam War, Smoot was a pilot for Continental Airlines for 28 years, with type ratings in the DC-9/MD-80, B-727, B-757, B-767, DC-10, and B-777.
A member of the Estrella Warbird Museum in Paso Robles, California, for many years, he was currently a director on the board, and had served as president from 2013 to 2015 and again from 2016 to 2017.
According to his biography on the museum’s website, “he was granted an unlimited Letter of Authority from the FAA, so he can, pretty much, fly any single or multiengine beast with more than 1,000 hp. He has been flying in the Reno Air Races for more than 20 years and won the AT-6/SNJ national championship in 1998. Currently, he flies a highly modified unlimited class Yak-11 and has always been in the top four in the Gold Race, when he hasn’t blown the engine.”
He also was chief pilot for the Gooney Birds Group, which owns the Douglas C-47 displayed at the museum.
“Sherman and a crew flew the vintage air transport to Normandy, France, in 2019 for the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Normandy invasion during World War II,” museum officials said in a press release.
“Sherman brought a wealth of aviation knowledge and experience to the museum,” said one member of the museum’s board. “He will be missed and difficult to replace.”
I was so looking forward to seeing Czech Mate and Sherman Smoot once again grace the skies over Stead Airport. I was sure that “team” was going to win the Unlimited Gold Cup this year. Unfortunately, I’ll never get to see that pilot or that plane ever fly again. This is a tragic loss to the air race community, and to all the fans that attend. Condolances to the Smoot Family for their loss, and a sad salute to an aircraft that was not built for racing but for training pilots. God’s Speed Sherman and Czech Mate, your losses will be felt.
I have read conflicting reports that indicated; he had already made a 180ﾟ before his engine seized, and; He was attempting to make a 180ﾟ turn when he crashed about half a mile Northwest of the airport. It will be very interesting to read the final report. Of course it was a tragic loss, perhaps something can be gleaned from this to help another pilot avoid the same fate.
Sounds like a fun guy who really loved aviation. He lived and breathed airplanes. May his soul rest in peace with the Angels.