OLIVEHURST, Calif. — Stanley McDonald Jr., the father of Broadway star Audra McDonald, was killed as an experimental aircraft he was flying crashed north of Sacramento.
McDonald, 62, was pronounced dead at the scene Sunday, the Yuba County Sheriff's Department said. He retired in 2005 as assistant superintendent of human resources for the Fresno Unified School District, where he worked for 33 years.
His wife, Vicki, said he had taken the craft, described as similar to a helicopter, for repairs to Olivehurst, about 40 miles north of Sacramento. She said he was experienced as a helicopter and fixed-wing pilot and had been logging his training hours in the experimental craft when it crashed.
Witnesses said the aircraft seemed to be having mechanical trouble and clipped trees before it crashed near Highway 70.
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"It was flying erratic, and I (saw) debris coming out," said David Aguirre of Olivehurst. He said the aircraft leaned to the side, then flipped upside down. The blades stopped, and it plummeted.
The crash attracted a crowd of several hundred people, said Sgt. Joe Million of the Yuba County Sheriff's Department. The highway was closed for more than three hours Sunday afternoon.
Audra McDonald, a four-time Tony winner, currently is appearing on Broadway in a revival of "110 in the Shade." The actress was to appear in the show Tuesday night but Wednesday and Thursday performances were canceled, Matt Polk, a spokesman for the Roundabout Theatre Company production, said. McDonald will return to the show Friday, Polk added.
The Tom Jones-Harvey Schmidt musical is now in previews and will open as scheduled May 9.
