Aviation World Mourns After Champion Pilot Rob Holland Dies In Crash At Langley Air Force Base

 

The aviation community is mourning the loss of Rob Holland, a 13-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, who was killed in a crash at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia on Thursday.

According to investigators, Holland was "coming in to land on runway 8" when he lost control and crashed beside the runway. Dan Boggs, the lead investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), confirmed that Holland was performing a routine landing, not any aerobatic maneuvers, when the accident occurred. The cause of the loss of control remains under investigation.

Holland had been arriving at the base to participate in the Air Power Over Hampton Roads airshow, scheduled for this weekend.

"Over the last 24 hours, I’ve gained even more of a tremendous appreciation for the aviators and professionals that orchestrate these air shows," said Air Force Col. Matthew Altman, commander of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, during a press conference Friday. "Based on consultation with the NTSB and our team's readiness to ensure a safe event, we have decided to proceed with the Air Power Over Hampton Roads airshow as planned."

The crash occurred around 11:50 a.m. on Thursday as Holland approached the runway in his custom-built MXS-RH aerobatic aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that only Holland was aboard the aircraft. Preliminary findings from the NTSB indicate that the plane never made contact with the runway before crashing into adjacent terrain.

The news of Holland’s death sent shockwaves through the aviation world. Widely regarded as one of the greatest aerobatic pilots in history, Holland was celebrated for his exacting technique, creativity, and innovative aerial maneuvers—many of which he invented himself.

"Rob was one of the most respected and inspiring aerobatic pilots in aviation history," a tribute posted on his company's Facebook page said. "Even with an absolutely impressive list of accomplishments, both in classical competition aerobatics and within the air show world, Rob was the most humble person with a singular goal to simply be better than he was yesterday."

Holland's custom MXS-RH aircraft was built to his specifications using carbon fiber, capable of sustaining 16 G-forces and rolling at an astonishing 500 degrees per second. Holland had devoted more than two decades to life as a full-time airshow performer, inspiring countless fans across North America.

The Experimental Aircraft Association, organizers of the famed Oshkosh airshow where Holland was a regular standout, praised him as "a trailblazer whose passion and innovation redefined the art of aerobatic flight."

The E3 Aviation Association echoed those sentiments, calling Holland "an extraordinary pilot, an incredible person, and a true hero who inspired countless lives." With over 15,000 flight hours across more than 180 types of aircraft, Holland's unmatched skill was exceeded only by his infectious enthusiasm for aviation.

As the investigation into the crash continues, the aviation community remembers Rob Holland not just for his breathtaking talent, but also for his humility, kindness, and relentless pursuit of excellence in flight.