Mon, Nov 06, 2006
Witnesses Say Plane 'Exploded'
A Zodiac CH 601 single-engine aircraft went down in northern
California Saturday, possibly due to an inflight 'explosion.' The
aircraft crashed in a Sutter County orchard, killing two
people who were on an apparent VFR pleasure flight.
The Marysville Appeal Democrat quoted sheriff's Capt. Dave
Samson, "They took off from Mather Field. We don't know where they
were going. We don't know why the plane went down. It did break up
in flight."
A witness said he saw the plane heading northwest and heard the
engine miss, cough, and start sputtering. He then said he saw the
plane spewing black smoke and losing parts.
Other witnesses, according to the Sacramento Bee, said they
heard a loud bang followed by a screeching, metallic sound. "It was
like a bomb going off," said neighbor David Waters, who said he saw
the plane falling and called 911. "The wings came off the fuselage.
They were falling like a feather, floating and spiraling down."
Parts of the plane were scattered hundreds of feet apart. Other
lightweight parts were said to have fluttered for over thirty
seconds after the main wreckage hit.
The victims were identified as Donald and Adeline Dennehey, both
79, from nearby Fair Oaks.
The Zodiac is a small aluminum two-seat low-wing training and
light-sport aircraft manufactured by Zenith Aircraft Co. in Mexico,
MO. The company offers both kitbuilt and certificated production
models. The accident aircraft was a factory-built model.
The NTSB is investigating.
More News
Inversion to Launch Reentry Vehicle Demonstrator Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 This fall, the aerospace startup Inversion is set to launch its Ray reentry demonstrator capsule aboard Spac>[...]
"We are excited to accelerate the adoption of electric aviation technology and further our journey towards a sustainable future. The agreement with magniX underscores our commitmen>[...]
"The journey to this achievement started nearly a decade ago when a freshly commissioned Gentry, driven by a fascination with new technologies and a desire to contribute significan>[...]
Aero Linx: OX5 Aviation Pioneers Each year a national reunion of OX5 Aviation Pioneers is hosted by one of the Wings in the organization. The reunions attract much attention as man>[...]
"Our driven and innovative team of military and civilian Airmen delivers combat power daily, ensuring our nation is ready today and tomorrow." Source: General Duke Richardson, AFMC>[...]