But Jeff Rahm, president of Four Winds Aircraft in New Smyrna Beach, said Friday that two of the company's employees died in the crash.
Rick Grannis, a salesman and instructor for the firm, was the pilot, and sales manager Garry Williams was the passenger, Rahm said.
"We have no answers," Rahm said. "There was an inflight engine fire and that's all we're able to tell at this time. ... The plane itself was fine, but what engine problems they had, we don't know."
Grannis and Williams flew to Marathon Airport on Thursday afternoon to attend a Christmas party of the Young Eagles flying club, said club president Ed Waldorf. They had asked to show the prototype plane to the group and gave several club members rides in the plane, Waldorf said.
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Two employees, not muslim, had been given flights all day, engine fire before crash.
Take off your tinfoil people.
Two Killed As Small Plane Hits Miami Federal Bank
[pilot and passenger identified: NON-muslim?]
Associated Press (via Yahoo! News) ^ | December 6, 2002 | WJXT News4Jax.com - AP
Posted on 12/06/2002 6:46 AM PST by RonDog
Two Killed As Small Plane Hits Miami Federal BankA employees [sic] of an New Smyrna Beach aircraft company were killed when their small plane crashed into the Federal Reserve (news - web sites) Building in Miami Thursday night.
One body was found in the wreckage, and a second victim was found on a neaby golf course about 6 a.m. Friday morning.
As the plane struck the building west of the Miami International Airport about 9 p.m., as more than 100 employees were inside the building celebrating a holiday party.
Officials say the aircraft clipped the building, then burst into flames.
"The first fire rescue units responded within three minutes. When they got here they found on the east side of the Federal Reserve Bank here in Miami, a small plane fully engulfed," said Miami Fire Dept. Chief Luis Fernandez.
"We got out the building as fast as we could," said one employee.
"It's scary," said another.
No one inside the building was hurt.
Just a few hours after the crash, crews were using heavy equipment to remove the wreckage of the single-engine experimental aircraft, an American flag emblazoned on its tail.
Four Winds Aircraft president Jeff Rahm of New Smyrna Beach said two of the company's employees died in the crash. He says Rick Grannis, who was a salesman and instructor for the firm, was the pilot. Sales manager Garry Williams was the passenger.
Young Eagles Flying Club president Ed Waldorf said the two men flew to the Marathon Airport Thursday to attend a Christmas party for his group.
The National Transportation Safety Board (news - web sites) is investigating the cause of the crash.
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Small aircraft crashes into Federal Reserve Bank building in Miami...
Drudge Report ^
Posted on 12/05/2002 6:59 PM PST by SamAdams76
Small Plane Hits Miami Bank, Pilot Dies
Yahoo! News - AP ^ | 12/6/2002 | By CORALIE CARLSON
Posted on 12/05/2002 10:53 PM PST by Bobby777MIAMI (AP) - A small plane crashed into the Federal Reserve (news - web sites) Bank Building during a holiday party on Thursday night, killing the pilot, authorities said. No one inside the building was injured."It appears to be an accident," said Federal Aviation Administration (news - web sites) spokeswoman Laura Brown in Washington...more
1 posted on 12/06/2002 6:46 AM PST by RonDog
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"...Four Winds Aircraft president Jeff Rahm of New Smyrna Beach said two of the company's employees died in the crash. He says Rick Grannis, who was a salesman and instructor for the firm, was the pilot. Sales manager Garry Williams was the passenger..."O.K., FReepers.WHO ARE THESE GUYS?
Do they have any terrorist connections?
2 posted on 12/06/2002 6:50 AM PST by RonDog
more
Well, I really didn't have any on, BUT I do keep the stuff in a box next to my computer. (Just in case I need it). LOL CD
This is an outstanding aircraft, and I hope that the company will not be harmed because of this accident.
Did he really try to say that the plane was fine, except for that engine fire?? Even if they manufacture the plane and not the engine, I assume they plan for the plane to be assembled with an engine.