Fatal plane crash kills pilot in Ukiah CA

[Randy Wentzel]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2004/04/04/UKIAH1.DTL

Tonight KTVU channel 2 (SF, CA) broadcasted an interview of a highway
patrol officer at the scene of the accident who thought that the pilot
was probably trying to land on the freeway "because of fog." At this
point the FAA and NTSB say that they have no idea why the plane crashed,
and that the pilot had not been in communication with anyone around the
time of the accident.

Ukiah is a small town, and the airport is less than a mile from where
the airplane went down. He hadn’t filed flight plan though, and it
“sounds” as though it was IRF conditions at the time of the accident.

I fly out of KSTS which is about 40 mi south of Ukiah. My most sincere
condolences go to pilot’s family and loved ones.

--
Randy Wentzel

[Cecil E. Chapman]

Heard about this one... sounds like the pilot took off into IMC from Ukiah
(at least based on what the airport personnel are saying) and lost it in the
fog (probably a VFR pilot trying to climb through obscuration to the VFR
above the fog,,, or an IFR rated pilot who didn't keep the polish on his IFR
flying).

Took my father for his first flight, ever, in a small plane (a C152) shortly
after getting my PPL. Just one of those memories that I will cherish
forever.

Heart goes out to the relatives of this pilot for this (apparently) totally
preventable accident. :-(

--
--
=-----
Good Flights!

Cecil
PP-ASEL
Student-IASEL

Check out my personal flying adventures from my first flight to the
checkride AND the continuing adventures beyond!
Complete with pictures and text at: www.bayareapilot.com

"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery -

"We who fly, do so for the love of flying. We are alive in the air with
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- Cecil Day Lewis -
"Randy Wentzel" > wrote in message
...
>
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2004/04/04/UKIAH1.DTL
>
> Tonight KTVU channel 2 (SF, CA) broadcasted an interview of a highway
> patrol officer at the scene of the accident who thought that the pilot
> was probably trying to land on the freeway "because of fog." At this
> point the FAA and NTSB say that they have no idea why the plane crashed,
> and that the pilot had not been in communication with anyone around the
> time of the accident.
>
> Ukiah is a small town, and the airport is less than a mile from where
> the airplane went down. He hadn’t filed flight plan though, and it
> “sounds” as though it was IRF conditions at the time of the accident.
>
> I fly out of KSTS which is about 40 mi south of Ukiah. My most sincere
> condolences go to pilot’s family and loved ones.
>
> --
> Randy Wentzel