Posted on 08/30/2014 4:28:28 PM PDT by Brown Deer
RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - A Cirrus SR22 recreational plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean Saturday, 51 miles southeast of Chincoteague Island, Va. The Coast Guard reported one person was on board.
Sources with knowledge of the initial investigation say it is highly likely the pilot is dead.
According to the NTSB, the plane took off from Waukesha, Wisc. and was scheduled to land in Manassas, Va.
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 5th District in Portsmouth, Va. received notification at approximately 2:40 p.m. that the aircraft with only the pilot aboard failed to land at Manassas Regional Airport as scheduled.
Instead the plane remained at an altitude of approximately 13,000 feet and continued into restricted air space near Washington, D.C.
Two U.S. F-16 aircraft came alongside the Cessna to investigate and observed the pilot to be unconscious in the cockpit.
The F-16 airmen escorted the plane on its course over the Eastern Shore of Virginia until it eventually ran out of fuel and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Coast Guard launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Elizabeth City in North Carolina and the crew of Cutter Beluga, homeported in Virignia Beach, to respond.
The NTSB signaled Saturday afternoon it has started an investigation into the crash.
That or a “V8 Moment”!
I have a friend — 60ish— who bought a plane recently. Because of his health (heart problems) he can only get a “sport” license which does not allow him to carry passengers, or fly at night. Also, trips less than 500 miles.
I think he’s nuts and has a death wish. His wife says it is something he’s always wanted to do, so let him do it. Privately, he tells my husband that he’s a little afraid of the plane and hasn’t tried it out yet.
What amazes me is the number of new friends he has acquired who also have planes. One of my friend’s neighbors has a terminal illness, but he’s building a hanger for his plane right in his back yard. In the middle of Mequon!
I asked my friend, “What’s he going to do for a runway?”
Right now the only immediate use for the hanger is for a wedding reception for one of his kids. They are all a little nuts.
Yes, I still remember where I was and what I was doing that day. Terrible.
He was supposed to land in Manassas around 2-2:30pm timeframe because the airport reported him late at 2:40pm, according to the article.
LOL! I used to work for a family that was nuts for flying, too. They all had their pilot’s licenses and would build their own planes. Flew every weekend, etc.
They LIVED for the two weeks in late summer surrounding the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh (b’Gosh!) and our construction business would basically shut down for that period (they could well afford it) while they camped and flew and shmoozed with the like-minded. (I held down the fort. LOVED those two weeks - paid for doing not much more than answering the phones and dealing with the mail.)
It’s a whole ‘nother world, that’s for sure. Almost like being a rabid NASCAR fan, I’d guess.
And speaking of RABID fans, quit bugging me; College FOOTBALL started last night! I’ll see you after the Rose Bowl!
*SMIRK* :)
Patrick Hutchinson tells FOX6 News his father, Ronald was Harley-Davidson’s Senior Vice President for 35 years — saying he retired recently.
Ronald Hutchinson has been flying for 43 years, according to his son.
Harley-Davidson issued the following statement to FOX6 News:
“Ron’s contributions to Harley-Davidson were significant during his many years with the company. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hutchinson family as we mourn his loss.”
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