Summary
- Photographer Pamela Haselton died on November 6, 2026, at a private New York airfield.
- She was photographing a 1943 Aeronca L-3 with a tripod-mounted camera on the runway.
- The aircraft struck her as it taxied toward a hangar.
- Her death was ruled accidental, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Wildlife and landscape photographer Pamela M. Haselton, 67, died on November 6, 2026, after being struck by a small aircraft at a private airfield in New York State.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:47 p.m. at Catalano Airfield in Wilmington, in the Adirondack region. Haselton had set up a tripod-mounted camera on the runway to photograph a vintage aircraft.
The plane had already landed and was taxiing toward a hangar
The aircraft was a 1943 Aeronca L-3, a two-seat, single-engine plane operated by 77-year-old James J. Catalano. It had completed its landing and was taxiing toward a hangar when the collision happened.
According to New York State Police, Haselton attempted to move her tripod and camera out of the plane’s path. The pilot did not see her or the equipment, and the aircraft struck her. Emergency lifesaving efforts were made, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation is continuing
An autopsy attributed the death to hypovolemic shock from severe injuries. Authorities ruled the death accidental, while New York State Police continue to investigate the circumstances alongside the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Haselton lived in Wilmington and was known locally for her love of nature, landscape photography and wildlife. Friends and residents remembered her as an active community member who cared deeply about the natural world.
Safety comes before the photograph
The tragedy is a reminder of how quickly a shoot near a moving vehicle can become dangerous. Runways and taxiways are not safe places to set up tripods without controlled access and clear coordination. Even a plane moving slowly on the ground may present serious blind spots for its pilot.
The loss of a photographer while making pictures also recalls the death of photographer Linda Gregory following a collision with players at an American football game, a separate incident that illustrated the risks of working too close to moving subjects.
What we think
A camera on a tripod can make us focus on the frame rather than everything moving around us. But in front of an aircraft, vehicle or machinery, no piece of equipment is worth risking a life to retrieve.
For shoots like these, the safe shooting position, escape route and communication with people in charge must be established beforehand. If something approaches unexpectedly, the priority is getting ourselves clear, not collecting the tripod. That is not a finding about responsibility in this particular accident; it is a practical safety lesson for anyone photographing near moving equipment.
