APRIL 3, 2015
SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
From the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department On April
3rd, 2015, at approximately 12:30 PM, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office
received numerous reports that an ultra-light aircraft that had crashed in a
rural area of Petaluma.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’ Office Helicopter, Henry 1,
along with patrol deputies from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, responded
to the area and conducted a search for the aircraft.
While conducting an aerial search, Henry 1 located the crash
site in a field approximately one half mile south-east east of the intersection
of Frates Road and Adobe Road. The pilot, and sole occupant of the aircraft,
was found deceased in the wreckage of the aircraft.
The cause of the aircraft crash was unknown and will be
investigated by the N.T.S.B. (National Transportation Safety Board).
The identity of the deceased pilot will not be released pending the notification of the pilot’s next of kin.
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The pilot of an ultralight aircraft died Friday afternoon
when the plane crashed in a rural area of Petaluma near the Petaluma Municipal
Airport, Sonoma County sheriff’s officials said.
Multiple people began calling 911 at about 12:30 p.m. to
report a plane crash in an area of vineyards and fields southeast of the Adobe
Creek Golf and Country Club and in the southeastern approach to the airport.
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Lt. Greg Miller said the pilot of
the craft was confirmed to have died in the crash about a half mile southeast
of the intersection of Frates and Adobe roads. The identity of the pilot, who
was the sole occupant, was not immediately available as coroner staff worked to
notify the person’s family.
Multiple witnesses described watching the craft spiral
toward the ground.
Russel Fones, 34, of Petaluma was out walking on paths off
Cypress Drive near Shollenberger Park when he heard a noise, looked up and saw
a small plane spiraling downward.
“I thought he was just doing a stunt but he just kept going
straight down until he disappeared below the horizon,” Fones said.
“Ten seconds later I heard it go boom when it hit the
ground,” he said.
Then he saw fire trucks and other emergency vehicles rushing
toward the area.
The sheriff’s helicopter crew Henry 1 was at the scene,
along with emergency personnel and ambulances. A CHP helicopter was also
heading to the area.
www.pressdemocrat.com
Considering the numerous crashes and deaths and injuries, these ultralight planes appear to be a death wish. We, at least, hope that these pilots had enough fun worth dying for. RIP, friend; see you on the other side when our time comes.