Photographer Killed by Taxiing Vintage Aircraft at New York Airfield

The 67-year-old woman was photographing an Aeronca L-3 when the aircraft struck her.

Matt Ryan

Monday, November 09, 2026 at 11:11 AM ET

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Matt Ryan

[Credit: FAA]

Key Takeaways:

A photographer, Pamela M. Haselton (67), was fatally struck by a taxiing 1943 Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper aircraft at Catalano Airfield in Wilmington, New York, on Friday.
The accident occurred when Haselton attempted to move her tripod-mounted camera from the runway as the aircraft, piloted by James J. Catalano (77), approached, and the pilot reportedly did not see her.
Emergency personnel attempted lifesaving measures, but Haselton died at the scene, and the incident is currently under investigation by New York State Police, the FAA, and NTSB.

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A taxiing aircraft struck and killed a photographer Friday at Catalano Airfield (1NK6), a private airfield in Wilmington, New York. According to the Times Union, 67-year-old Pamela M. Haselton was photographing a 1943 Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper when the accident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. EST.

New York State Police said 77-year-old James J. Catalano landed the aircraft at Catalano Airfield and taxied toward a hangar. Haselton had placed a tripod-mounted camera on the runway and attempted to move it as the airplane approached. Police said Catalano did not see Haselton or the camera before striking her. Emergency personnel attempted lifesaving measures, but Haselton died at the scene.

Haselton worked as a wildlife and landscape photographer and exhibited her work at a local library earlier this year. In a separate 2024 accident in Kansas, an aircraft’s spinning propeller killed another photographer. New York State Police, the FAA and NTSB are investigating Friday’s accident.

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