New York Air Show crash: Pilot dies while practising for this weekend's show

The accident occurred near the Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, a town in Orange County, New York

The wreckage of a stunt plane from WABC TV near Stuart Air Force Base in New York. (WABC/abc7NY.com/Associated Press) ((WABC/abc7NY.com/Associated Press))

A pilot has died after his stunt plane crashed while he was practising for the New York Air Show.

The accident occurred shortly after 2pm near at the Stewart International Airport in New Windsor, a town in Orange County, New York.

The New York State Police released a statement saying that the GILES 202 aircraft crashed due to a structural failure. The plane entered into a steep dive then landed into a wooded area. The pilot, whose name is being withheld until authorities contact the victim's family, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials said that flight practise is cancelled for the remainder of the evening but will resume as planned on Saturday.

Benjamin Granucci, photographer and editor-in-chief of NYCAviation.com, told The Independent that he was on the scene watching the flight practise during the crash.

"I was out there watching them live for the airshow practice. We had just finished riding in a B-25 before the crash. I went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows."

Mr Granucci said that he hadn't seen any smoke or flames emerge from the wreckage and that the crash "wasn't even loud." He described the plane's tail as being blown off the aircraft, leaving a trail of heavy smoke.

"There are no words to describe it. You knew what was happening, you knew what was coming."

New York State Police and the National Transportation Safety Board are reportedly investigation the crash.