Thursday, April 2, 2015

WITNESSES SAW SMOKE OR EXHAUST BEFORE ORANGE, VIRGINIA DEADLY PLANE CRASH INVOLING A TEEN PILOT






APRIL 2, 2015

ORANGE, VIRGINIA. (AP) 

A preliminary report says two witnesses reported seeing a thin trail of smoke or exhaust from the engine before a small plane crashed in Orange County.

The report by the National Transportation Safety Board says the witnesses also told investigators that the Piper single-engine fixed-wing plane made a sharp left turn while taking off. The plane then descended to the ground.

The pilot, 16-year-old Ryan Lee McCall of Spotsylvania, was killed in the March 29 crash east of the Orange County Airport.

According to the report, he was a student pilot with 30.6 hours of flight experience, including 2.7 solo hours. He had planned to fly to Farmville Regional Airport.

The flight school's owner told investigators that the pilot appeared to initiate a left turn that was earlier than customary.


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TEEN PILOT CRASHED HIS PLANE AND DIED IN ORANGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA

MARCH 30, 2015

ORANGE, VA. (WUSA9)

The investigation continues after a 16-year-old pilot from Spotsylvania was killed in a plane crash in Orange County Sunday morning, Virginia State Police said.

The pilot has been identified as Ryan Lee McCall, 16, of Spotsylvania, Va. McCall died at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

Police responded to the crash at 9:44 a.m just east of the Orange County Airport. A 1974 Piper, model PA28140 single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft small plane was involved in the crash. The plane is owned by William Rushing III of Springfield, Va.



A 16-year-old pilot was killed Sunday morning after crashing a plane in Orange County, Va. (Photo: Virginia State Police)

Virginia State Police, the FAA and NTSB are still trying to determine the cause of the crash, police said. Investigators will remain on the scene throughout Monday to move the wreckage from the scene, authorities said.



A 16-year-old pilot was killed Sunday morning after crashing a plane in Orange County, Va. (Photo: Virginia State Police)

Spotsylvania County Schools released the following statement on McCall'a death Monday morning:

We were very saddened to hear the news about the death of Riverbend High Sophomore Ryan McCall. Ryan will be deeply missed. The Riverbend leadership team is working closely with the counseling staff to address the concerns of our entire educational community as we cope with this loss. We will have additional counseling staff in place on Monday, March 30th and the coming days as necessary to support our students and staff. Our thoughts are with the McCall family during this very difficult time.