Posted on 06/11/2010 3:58:40 PM PDT by Migraine
At about 2 pm on Friday, June 11, a small plane, apparently taking off from Springerville airport crashed into the Round Valley High School's main building. Shortly after the crash, there was an explosion that was rattled windows all over town. It is suspected the plane's fuel tank exploded.
The first person on the scene was James Nelson Jr., Eagar councilman. "I was driving down Main Street and saw a small plane that was too low and wobbling. It went down near the High School so I pulled in and saw it had crashed into the roof. There were pieces of the plane scattered over the roof and in the parking lot."
Nelson said that 3 other people helped him try to get into the building, but the doors were locked as they were leaving the plane exploded.
Police and fire departments from 40 miles away were called to the scene. The area around the school was being evacuated as a precaution as there are several large propane tanks in that area of the school. Pete Brown was also driving down Main Street and saw the plane. "It was way too low and wavering back and forth. I heard the explosion and saw the fireball." Brown also said he saw a wing on fire in the parking lot.
It is not known if anyone was in the building at the time, although there was a Forest Access rally scheduled for this evening in the auditorium next door. Candidate for Governor Dean Martin was scheduled to speak at the rally along with Senator Sylvia Allen, candidate Rusty Bowers, and candidate JD Hayworth.
No information was available about the plane or how many were on board. We will bring you further updates as they come in.
That’s why I like boats. I can swim, but I can’t fly.
“No more flight schools.”
How about crash schools. My condolences to the pilot’s family.
Airports can also be a problem for small private aircraft. The little field just outside Brooklyn Michigan has high tension wires running overhead so pilots have to come in either over or under those.
A few years back we had a blackout in this area due to a plane tangling with the power lines upon landing.
“sold them as flightworthy aircraft.”
After extensive scrutiny and certification by the FAA.
“but I can’t fly.”
What’s your glide ratio?
About the same as a rock.
Thanks for the information .......Stay safe !
Do you realize that "accidents" in GA mean front wheel dropping in a hole resulting in a prop strike to the ground to flat tires causing a ground loop, wind overturning aircraft on landing, etc? usually pretty boring stuff.
If your engine quits, and you make a perfectly safe landing on a highway,, it is a FAA reportable accident.
That’s what I’m thinking.
Ummm, so, you’re asking, in effect, do I realize that “accidents” are accidents? Why yes, maestro, I do.
No,,,, I'm saying the number of GA accidents are not accients like you see in car crashs. Have you ever run out of gas?? did you report it as an accident?
Get over it, you lost the point.
GREAT point.
The CFI was having the student practice an engine out landing procedure when the bolt holding the lean mixture came loose. So they did a real engine out landing on a four lane highway in Van Nuys, Ca. Tore one of the wing struts and landing gear off hitting a parked car. The plane was rebuilt by a retired A & P, IA mechanic and converted to a taildragger. It is a Cessne 172M.
For my plane.
Actually the overhead photos (google, bing, etc) show a track next to the dome. The google street level photos seem to show that it's just the remains of a track. But there is still a big open field, probaby was the soccer/football practice field, before the dome was built. Maybe still used sometimes for that,, or other events, as there are still bleachers there too. But from the air, it would still look like a track, and you'd not be going for the track anyway, but the field.
As of 7:17 PM (local?) , still no word on who the pilot and passenger were.
I find that a bit odd. Unless they can't find the registration number on the plane, or even a partial number. There should have been flight plan filed, even if only a VFR one. A partial registration number could be compared to flight plans for the general area. A full one of course would lead to the owner, and then hopefully to the pilot, assuming the pilot is not the owner, which might or might not be the case.
Yes school is in session as of right now but it is on a 4-4 schedule so no one was there. there is a video on youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/tsitra360 it should be the first one.
I’m wondering who was on the plane - RIP.
http://www.kpho.com/news/23875425/detail.html
Updated 11:30 last night - still no info on 2 on board.
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