Training Mishap Kills Navy Pilot

W A S H I N G T O N, April 2 -- A Navy pilot was killed this afternoon in a flight training accident on the eastern shore of Maryland.

The pilot, whose name is being withheld pending notification of family, died after his two-seat propeller plane collided with a similar aircraft at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station around 2:50 p.m. ET, military officials said

Navy officials said it remains unclear whether the crash happened in the air or on the ground. Three other aviators — two of them civilians — received minor injuries and were being treated at the base medical center.

The Extra 300L planes — known as Extra 300s — are privately owned and were leased to the Navy for training. There was one civilian and one Navy pilot in each of the planes.

The Navy is investigating the incident.