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Cantonment, Pensacola Men Among Four Killed In Navy T-39 Crash
April 14, 2010
A Cantonment man was among the four killed the crash of a T-39N Sabreliner near Blue Ridge, Georgia, on Monday.
Lt. Cmdr. Charles McDaniel (Ret.), 67, of Cantonment; Capt. Jason Paynter, USMC, 38, of Pensacola; 1st Lt. Shawn Nice, USMC, 26, of Levittown, Pennsylvania.; and Ens. Zachary Eckhart, 25, of Orefield, Pennsylvania, died in the training jet crash in north Georgia.
All four were assigned to Training Squadron (VT) 86, based out of Naval Air Station Pensacola. They were conducting a routine training mission at the time of the crash. The cause of the mishap is under investigation.
A memorial service is scheduled Friday for family, friends and squadron mates at the Aviation Memorial Chapel, NAS Pensacola. The memorial service is not open to the public.
Comments
44 Responses to “Cantonment, Pensacola Men Among Four Killed In Navy T-39 Crash”
Peggy,
I just discovered this information by chance. I am in shock having read this about Charlie. You may remember we spent a week together with a broken Phantom in Louisiana a long time ago when we were stationed in Key West. We lived in the same efficiency apartments, and you taught Donna how to prepare Chicken Dolphin.
I really enjoyed being with Charlie. He certainly liked Cheeseburgers.
Please accept Donna and my deepest condolences.
jack wood
Former Navy RIO
Rest in Pace Capt Paynter.
An online memorial has been developed for him and those who wish to leave behin a message at http://www.findagrave.com
Just enter his name in the search engine
I recently graduated from WSO training at Pensacola. Charlie Mac was the favorite of nearly every student. What a great guy.
I never had the privilege of flying with Capt. Paynter, but I did work the duty desk with him many times. Both have made quite an impact on me and will definitely be missed.
Thanks to all who are posting such great memories about my Dad, Charlie. Since I was born in 1970 he has been flying. It was his lifelong passion. He was married to my Mom Peggy Davis for 9 years after graduating from Berry College and had two children, myself and my older sister Kim. I was blessed to have 39 years as his daughter as well as watch him be the best Granddaddy to my son Jesse for the last 9 years. They would play for hours just laughing & laughing. Dad was thrilled to finally have a boy around after having 5 girls! My heart is completely broken but I will try to remember all the good times and know he is in a better place. I just wish I got to say goodbye and have one more hug…..
On behalf of my family, I would like to thank all of you for contributing so many thoughts, prayers and stories. As you can imagine, our loss is tremendous. He was the finest man I ever knew and I was fortunate to call him my husband for over 30 years. God Bless you for caring and sharing. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Terrie McDaniel (Mrs. Charles H. McDaniel)
Charlie Mac was a great person and most excellent aviator — I have worked the UNFO contract since 1984 and spent may hours in the sky with C-man and had nothing but the greatest respect and admiration for him. I always wished I could be cool like him. I will always have a place in my heart for him. My last conversation with him will stay with me forever – Sunday C-mac came back from a cross country and was heading to the parking lot dragging his little airport luggage behind him – I asked him if he wanted me to go get his golf clubs out of the bird and put them in his car — He just laughed and said he didnt get a chance to play this time but would use my caddie services on the next trip. I said , as long as you get me a free ride and dinner – your on. He laughed again waved goodby and continued out the gate — To his family — thanks for sharing such a wonderful person with us here at the T-47 / T-39 program
Walt
May God bless all of these brave men. It is because of these men that we are free. Rest in Peace and in the loving embrace of our heavenly Father.
Thank you all for your wonderful comments. Daddy was the best. Please keep us all in your prayers…this is hard for everyone.
They flew over our house a couple of times (low level) on Monday here in Athens TN. It’s not often I see a T-39 flying here. Their last pass was 4ish pm and they were very low as they continued on to the south east. I had a sinking feeling watching them…then read about the crash the next day, about 40-50 miles from here.
My prayers for the families. Fly with the Angels, Gentlemen.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie’s wife, Terri and the girls.
Charlie came to FSM often and always had a smile and became a friend, may god bless you and your family.
My daughter called that afternoon telling us she wasn’t on that flight as she is going thru WSO training in Pensacola. My heart goes out to the family of these patriots.
My heart aches for all 4 of these Men and their families!
C-Mac and I served together in VC-5 long ago. He was truly a fine Gentleman and familyman as well as a Patriot. He will be missed!
Rest in peace, gentlemen. Rest in Peace.
My thoughts and prayers are with his close family and friends. May God watch over you all…
I remember Charlie Mac well… it was always a good day flying with him… an intuitive pilot and a great mentor. Fair winds and following seas to all.
May they rest in peace and my condolences to their loved ones.
I live in the area where they crashed and to tell you the truth I am surprised that there hasn’t been a crash before now. The military jets fly over our mountains so low that sometimes it seems they are brushing the tops of the trees. My heart goes out to the families and pray they arrived in heaven safely!
Charlie was a high school classmate of mine who in addition to being an excellent student, he was active in all sports especially baseball and basketball where he excelled in both Charlie was one of two members from our small class who attended and graduatef from Naval Aviation School in Pensacola. His father was Chaplain of Berry Schools which is located, ironically, in north GA, so Charlie and his family have always been close to me.
Charle, May you rest in peace.
What a loss! Those who serve are REAL heros!
My condolences from Germany,
I was in Pensacola the last year for WSO Training, did my first T-39 flight with Charlie, I had 3 or 4 flights with him and I can say he really was one of the nicest and best guys there I have met…
I enjoyed flying with him and he helped me out a lot.
And I am deeply sorry for the other Officers as well.
I never flew with Charlie Mac but I flew and simd with Capt Paynter. We worked closely on squadron business after I winged. I cant stop thinking about those guys. He was a great instructor and officer. The training we did was essential and I will carry those experiences with me the rest of my career. You did not die in vain.
“Mein herzliches Beileid ” from the German Air Force Academy !
I finished my WSO training in 1998 and now I am preparing the German students for NPA.
Holy cr.. I am a corporate pilot I was just met the older fella and we talked about that old T-39 he was flying. They were in St. Louis and were heading back to Pensacola after some students were doin some sim at Flight Safety. Small world. That was about a month ago. He said that thing was built in the late 60’s. He was a cool fella.
I flew with Charlie Mac multiple times and he was an awesome pilot. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those involved and I am so proud to have served next to them.
Praying for comfort And peace for the families of these officers. Giving everything to make our country a better place to live. God bless our servicemen & women ands their families.
Charlie Mac was always one of my favorites.
Always put the students at ease, and a pleasure
to fly with. My heart and prayers go out to
his family and to the families of the entire
crew. It’s always too many and it’s always
too soon.
Rest easy Charlie Mac. We’ll celebrate in the big ready room in the sky one day! My prayers to the families, and my praise to these good warriors! Semper Fi!
Nothing but great experiences flying with Charlie Mac and VT-86. This loss is devastating, but those memories will never tarnish. My thoughts are with you all.
My thoughts and prayers go out to each and every family member.
Would like to express, to the families of these men, how greatful I am for their service. May God grant you Peace and Understanding. Know that your fellow Americans are praying for you…
Here’s a photo taken by JJ flying out of Whidby Island, Washington. I won’t forget our last flight together over Afghanistan. You’ll be missed, Radio. Semper Fi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EA-6B_VAQ-129_Apr2004.jpg
I was an instructor in VT-86 from ‘05-’07… Charlie Mac and I flew numerous times together… he was a good/solid pilot and an outstanding human being.
He will be missed greatly..!
My prayers are with the families of those lost.
I went to school a couple years ahead of Eckhart and flew with McDaniel a number of times. Rest in peace and know you will be remembered. With all the prayers of me and mine…
I went to school with Eckhart and flew with Charlie Mac. Rest in peace and know you will be fondly remembered.
My thoughts and prayers to Charlie Mac and the rest of the T-39 crew. My heart goes out to you all.
JJ “Radio” Paynter – Your laughter and humor will remain with us forever. All of your fellow Moondogs are praying for you and your family. Rest in peace Marine. Semper Fi.
My prayers are with all involved!
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the family members.These hero’s will be sadley missed. This base and town grieve there loss. From the guys in the T-6 PR shop.
My heart goes to their families and their friends.
I did not know these guys, but I was in Vt-86 just a couple years ago flying in a T-39 doing the same types of missions. My prayers go out to the families and friends. I know how close I was to all my squadron-mates when I was there, and it can’t be easy to deal with this.
RADIOOOOOO!! You will be missed brother. Semper Fi!!!
My thoughts and prayers go out to each and every family member.
These guys flew into my FBO on a regualar basis for fuel on their training missions and I am going to miss them!
My heart goes out to the family of these men I will keep ya’ll in prayer.