Witnesses: It Was Too Low

"We were outside barbecuing and here comes a low-flying plane. Then we heard this giant thud."

That's how Virginia Lansdale knew something was terribly wrong Saturday, as a Cessna 172 went down in Jones County (MS), killing all three people on board.

John William Hall, 33, his 36-year old wife, Tina, and 33-year old pilot Jamie Perry II were killed when the Skylane apparently hit a radio tower near the town of Moselle, after taking off from Hesler-Nobel Airport in Laurel (MS).

For Lansdale, it was especially tragic news. She knew the Halls, whom she said rented the aircraft to celebrate their first wedding anniversary.

"It's sad because we all knew them," she said. "We're so saddened about the accident and our hearts and prayers go out to their families."

Perry was both a flight instructor and a Laurel police officer.

FAA Preliminary Data

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 75812        Make/Model: C172      Description: 172, P172, R172, Skyhawk, Hawk XP, Cutla
  Date: 04/24/2004     Time: 2242

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: MOSELLE                     State: MS   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
ACFT STRUCK RADIO TOWER AND CRASHED VCNTY OF MOSELLE, MS. THREE PERSONS ARE REPORTED FATAL AND ACFT DESTROYED BY FIRE. OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN.
  MOSELLE, MS

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   3
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:    2     Fat:   2     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:           Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: METAR KPIB242235Z AUTO 16014G19KT 10SM 29/15 A3000                         
                                                                                    
                                                        

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: General Aviation

  Departed: UNKN                        Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination: UNKN                     Flt Plan: NONE         Wx Briefing: N
  Last Radio Cont: UNKN
  Last Clearance: UNKN

  FAA FSDO: JACKSON, MS  (SO07)                   Entry date: 04/26/2004

FMI: www.ntsb.gov