Gary Schmidt, Friend Lost In GA Accident
Monday was a day of mourning at
Tanis Aircraft Services as the company's leader was laid to rest.
Company President Gary Schmidt and a close friend were lost
Thursday when their Piper Cherokee Six crashed short of the runway
during an IFR approach to Glenwood Municipal Airport, MN.
Schmidt, 65, and Richard Mark Justice, 51, had been working in
Fort Myers, FL, repairing hurricane damage to their homes and
others in the vicinity. They were on their way home in their PA-32
(file photo of type, below) when the accident occurred.
"I didn't want him to go; there were some bad omens," said Nancy
Justice in an interview with the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "But my
husband was a very caring person, a humanitarian who couldn't say
no. If anyone asked for help, he was there."
At Tanis Aircraft Services, based in Glenwood, most workers took
part of Monday off to pay their respects to Schmidt. Phone calls
were answered by volunteers who stayed behind and the company had
this message on its web site:
Tanis Aircraft Services is deeply saddened to announce the
loss of our President and owner, Gary Schmidt in a tragic aircraft
accident near the Glenwood, MN Airport, December 9, 2004.
Tanis Aircraft Services will remain operational and continue
to service our customers with cold weather aviation
products.
Gary Schmidt bought Tanis Air Services from the family of
founder Peter Tanis in early 2002. As a pilot and businessman, he
vowed to continue the tradition of high quality products along with
on-going research and innovation for new and better products.
FAA Preliminary Accident Report
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 587C Make/Model: PA32
Description: PA-32 Cherokee Six, Six, Sarat
Date: 12/09/2004 Time: 1835
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury:
Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City:
GLENWOOD
State: MN Country: US
DESCRIPTION
ACFT, A PA32, IFR FROM MOUNT VERNON, IL TO GLENWOOD, MN, WAS
EXECUTING AN
ILS APPROACH AND CRASHED SHORT OF THE RWY. THE 2 POB ARE
FATAL AND DAMAGE
IS NOT DETERMINED. GLENWOOD, MN
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 2
# Crew:
1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0
Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass:
1 Fat: 1 Ser:
0 Min: 0 Unk:
#
Grnd: Fat:
0 Ser: 0 Min: 0
Unk:
WEATHER: NOT
REPORTED
OTHER DATA
Activity: Pleasure Phase: Landing
Operation: General Aviation
Departed: MOUNT VERNON, IL
Dep Date: 12/09/2004 Dep. Time:
Destination: GLENWOOD, MN
Flt Plan: UNK Wx Briefing: U
Last Radio Cont: UNKN
Last Clearance: UNKN
FAA FSDO: MINNEAPOLIS, MN
(GL15) Entry date:
12/10/2004 #