Mid-air in San Diego

Just witnessed a mid-air collision 5 miles south of KSEE :-(
I did not notice any aircraft in the sky until there was a medium sized
fireball low on the horizon. Two smoking pieces then split off and fell
down, reigniting into two smaller fireballs. About 3 minutes later the
smoke had vanished.
On TV the accident location was given as Griffen Park, El Cajon which
would put it WSW of KSEE or ESE of KMYF. It's close to the extended
localizer of KMYFs 28R and slightly north of San Diego's Bravo airspace.

Just got an update that at least 3 people died in the collision. Two of
them were in a Robinson R22.

This off of a San Diego TV station's website: (What the heck is an
"experimental Cessna"?)

Breaking News Alert: Plane, Helicopter Collide Near Gillespie Field
Last Updated:
02-08-06 at 6:08PM

An experimental plane collided with a helicopter near Gillespie Field in El
Cajon Wednesday, sending debris crashing to the ground over a nearby park
and homes and killing three people.

The two aircraft collided in mid-air at 4:40 p.m. and crashed at the El
Cajon-La Mesa boundary near Fletcher Hills.

Monica Zech, a spokeswoman for the city of El Cajon, confirmed that three
people were killed when the planes collided.

It wasn't immediately known where the aircraft originated or where they were
headed.

One of the aircraft was apparently an experimental Cessna plane, according
to George Wood of the Heartland Fire Department.

Debris was seen in and around Harry Griffen Park near Grossmont High School
in eastern La Mesa. Two tarps apparently covering bodies were seen near both
crash sites.

Authorities closed the park after the crash and cordoned off the wreckage
scene. Some debris started a fire in the attic of a house, but it was
unknown if anyone was inside, Zech said.

Eyewitness Patty Lee said she and her husband were walking at the dog park
when they heard a pop, looked up and saw the helicopter's cabin land in the
park.

"There was no one on the ground, but as we were leaving we saw two bodies on
the ground near the helicopter," she said.

Heartland Fire as well as El Cajon and La Mesa police have responded to the
emergency.

Parents of children still at Grossmont High School are advised to pick them
up at the corner of Water Street and Murray Drive using Severin Drive, and
the best approach is from the west and south.

Tune in to News 8 at 6:30 p.m. for the latest in this developing story.

--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"
wrote in message
oups.com...
Just witnessed a mid-air collision 5 miles south of KSEE :-(
I did not notice any aircraft in the sky until there was a medium sized
fireball low on the horizon. Two smoking pieces then split off and fell
down, reigniting into two smaller fireballs. About 3 minutes later the
smoke had vanished.
On TV the accident location was given as Griffen Park, El Cajon which
would put it WSW of KSEE or ESE of KMYF. It's close to the extended
localizer of KMYFs 28R and slightly north of San Diego's Bravo airspace.

Jay Honeck wrote:
This off of a San Diego TV station's website: (What the heck is an
"experimental Cessna"?)

I was wondering the same thing. All I can say is, it's getting pretty
tiring tracking down my friends lately...

Crap...

Other than that I noticed that article saids that:

One of the aircraft was apparently an experimental Cessna plane, according
to George Wood of the Heartland Fire Department.

Didn't know Cessna is still experimenting with airplanes.

The Monk

"Flyingmonk" wrote in message
ups.com...
One of the aircraft was apparently an experimental Cessna plane,
according
to George Wood of the Heartland Fire Department.

Didn't know Cessna is still experimenting with airplanes.

Knowing how accurate the media is, that probably just means an experimental
high wing aircraft... Technically, if someone was developing an STC for a
certified plane and doing test flights, wouldn't it be classified as an
'experimental' at that point?

Grumman-581 wrote:
"Flyingmonk" wrote in message
ups.com...

One of the aircraft was apparently an experimental Cessna plane,

according

to George Wood of the Heartland Fire Department.

Didn't know Cessna is still experimenting with airplanes.


Knowing how accurate the media is, that probably just means an experimental
high wing aircraft... Technically, if someone was developing an STC for a
certified plane and doing test flights, wouldn't it be classified as an
'experimental' at that point?

You think the press is smart enough to know that?

"Rachel" wrote in message
...
You think the press is smart enough to know that?

Nawh, I believe that one should not underestimate the stupidity of the
press...

Jay Honeck wrote:

This off of a San Diego TV station's website: (What the heck is an
"experimental Cessna"?)

A couple of years ago the new C182 with the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit was
labeled as an experimental, presumably during the time the G1000 was
getting certified for the aircraft.

Obviously this is not the case now, but it answers your question.

--
Peter

Bummer