Posted on 11/14/2004 8:07:51 PM PST by Ptarmigan
SAN ANTONIO -- At least one person was killed today when a small airplane crashed near a seniors citizens apartment complex, authorities said.
John Clabes, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said that the Piper Navajo owned by Dash Air Charter of San Antonio was on approach to San Antonio International Airport shortly after 5 p.m. "He pulled out of the approach and disappeared off our radio," Clabes said.
He said one person on the plane died and authorities were trying to determine if there were other victims on the plane. District Fire Chief Randy Jenkins said some people at the scene had to be treated for smoke inhalation.
The plane, which can seat six to eight people, crashed about three miles from the airport. The plane hit the ground, but a portion of the debris knocked a hole in the wall of one apartment.
"The plane hit between the carport and one of the apartment buildings. There is very little left, just the tail of the plane," City Manager Rolando Bono said in the online edition of the San Antonio Express-News.
"It literally clipped the railing of one of the buildings," he said.
Jenkins told San Antonio radio station WOIA that the crash knocked a hole in the roof of one occupied apartment. "There was actually somebody at home at the time of the crash. Fortunately, she was not injured," Jenkins said.
Has the FAA relaxed it's pilot certification requirements in recent years? Small planes have been falling out of the sky with distressing regularity lately.
For "it's" in my previous post read "its".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.