Witnesses Say Twin Spiraled Into Yard
A twin-engine Cessna 340 crashed Saturday afternoon while
preparing to land at Erie-Ottawa Regional Airport near Port
Clinton, claiming the lives of four north-central Ohio
residents.
Pilot David Eckstein, 67, his wife Janet Hanna, 66, and their
friends John McCarter, 68, and his wife, Karen Saprano, 62, were
killed in the accident just before 1:00 pm, reports the Mansfield
News Journal.
Erie-Ottawa Regional Airport Manager Jack Stables said the plane
radioed its intention to land at the airport when it was about 10
miles out. Stables said he saw the plane fly past, heading
east.
“Everything seemed normal and I could hear both engines
working fine,” he said. After the plane made a second radio
call, Stables said nothing else was heard.
No distress calls were made.
According to The Toledo Blade, an FAA official was driving on a
nearby road and watched the airplane apparently attempting to make
a turn, then spiraling to the ground. This description matches that
of another watching driver, Greg Dziak, who said he watched in
disbelief as the airplane "twirled down into the ground."
The plane (file photo of type,
right) was in landing configuration, with landing gear and flaps
down. The aircraft impacted the backyard of Chester
Alexander’s home, rattling windows and waking Mr. Alexander
from a nap. His wife told him something had hit the
ground behind the pond.
The airplane’s nose was partially submerged in the soft,
wet ground, and it was readily apparent there were no
survivors.
Eckstein is described as a veteran pilot who often donated his
aviation services to charities. Mark Daugherty, Operations
Supervisor of Mansfield Lahm Municipal Airport, had known Eckstein
for about a decade and said he was very highly respected.
"Dave was a good man. He was very active around our airport.
We’re going to miss him," Daugherty said. "I’ve been up
flying with Dave several times. I’d fly with him any day of
the week."
A successful businessman, Eckstein had owned several airplanes,
the 340 being the most recent. He flew friends McCarter and Saprano
to be married in the air in 2006.
The Young Eagles Program was a special passion for Eckstein and
according to the Young Eagles website, he had flown 358 youngsters
to introduce them to the joys of flight. "Dave has always been
affiliated with the program. It’s just his love of aviation,"
said Daugherty.