One of two aircrew on an A-29 Super Tucano light-attack aircraft died when the plane crashed at Red Rio Bombing Range in New Mexico Friday morning, the Navy reported Saturday.

The Navy identified the deceased pilot as Navy Lt. Christopher Carey Short, from Canandaigua, New York.

"There's no way to describe the shock of this loss and the sadness we feel for his family," said Col. Houston Cantwell, commander of Holloman Air Force Base's 49th Wing, in a message posted on the wing’s Facebook page.

"He did pioneering work in aviation that will help shape American air power for years to come. We're thankful to have known him and grateful for his devotion to duty."

Short had been participating in the Air Force’s Light Attack Experiment testing the capabilities of the A-29 and the AT-6B Wolverine.

The statement announcing his death did not mention the other crewmember who, according to the Air Force, suffered minor injuries and was airlifted to a local hospital.

Red Rio Bombing Range is the U.S. military’s largest open-air test range at 196,000 acres and part of the Army’s White Sands Missile Range, about 65 miles north of Holloman.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, the Navy reported.news@stripes.com

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