MEC&F Expert Engineers : RANCHER HERDING ANIMALS KILLED IN MALHEUR COUNTY, OREGON BELLANCA 7GCBC CITABRIA PLANE CRASH

Friday, May 15, 2015

RANCHER HERDING ANIMALS KILLED IN MALHEUR COUNTY, OREGON BELLANCA 7GCBC CITABRIA PLANE CRASH







MAY 15, 2015


(Photo: Malheur County Sheriff's Office)

JUNTURA, OREGON

A well-known ranch owner was killed Thursday morning when the small aircraft he was using to herd cattle crashed in Malheur County.

The crash happened at about 10:35 a.m. in Juntura, a rural community about 60 miles southwest of Vale. Michael Bentz, 51, was using a 1979 Bellanca plane (Bellanca 7GCBC Citabria) to move cattle with help from cowboys on the ground when his aircraft hit a power line, Malheur County Sheriff Brian Wolfe said.


The plane plummeted to the ground, landing on its top and killing Bentz, the sole occupant. Wolfe said Bentz is the brother of Oregon State Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, and former Malheur County Sheriff Andrew Bentz.

Using small aircraft to herd animals is common practice in the area, Wolfe said.


Date:
14-MAY-2015
Time:
10:35
Type:
Owner/operator:
Private
Registration:
N5042P
C/n / msn:
1121-79
Fatalities:
Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:
0
Airplane damage:
Unknown
Location:
Malheur County, near Juntura, OR - http://aviation-safety.net/database/country/flags_15/N.gif  United States of America
Phase:
Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:
Agricultural
Departure airport:

Destination airport:


Narrative:

The aircraft struck powerlines and impacted terrain while maneuvering near Juntura, Oregon. The airplane sustained unreported damage and the sole pilot onboard received fatal injuries.

Sources: