Plane down in TX

[rat115]

Sounds like there was a problem and the pilot was trying to land when the plane flipped and caught fire. All 3 flight crew, pt and wife were lost.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38089732/ns/us_news/

Very sad! Condolences to family, friends and coworkers.

[spenac]

I have lost a friend of many years. Sharon devoted her life to helping people. There is a hole in my heart that can never be filled.

http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=20372

Fatal Plane Crash in Brewster County 7/4/10

Jennifer Samp

CBS 7 News

July 4, 2010

Alpine, Texas - Tragedy this July 4th as a medical plane crash in Alpine kills all five on board, now investigators are looking for the cause.

According to the sheriff's office, it happened just after midnight.

We're being told an O’Hara Flying Service medical plane was transferring an elderly woman with a broken hip to Medical Center Hospital in Odessa.

Her husband, two medics, and a pilot were traveling along with her.

DPS has identified them as Guy Richard Folger of Midland, and his wife, Mary Folger.

The pilot was identified as 59-year-old pilot Ted Caffarel.

Two flight nurses, 42-year-old Tracy Chambers of Alpine and 49-year-old Sharon Falkener of Fort Davis.

Sheriff Dodson says the plane crashed a mile after take off and exploded on impact.

The bodies were unidentifiable.

The sheriff's department says the weather conditions were clear enough for flight and believes the cause could be mechanical.

We spoke to an investigator with the NTSB who said this investigation could take up to 8 months. She says they are bringing focus to emergency air ambulance accidents nationwide.

The FAA is also investigating the crash.

DPS is guarding the crash sight tonight and the investigation will continue tomorrow morning.

CBS7 has discovered this is not the first time the flight company O’Hara flying services has had trouble.

A report from the National Transportation Safety Board says a little over a year ago a similar plane operated by the Amarillo based company almost crashed.

The type of plane (Cessna 421) that crashed today, is identical to the one mentioned in this report.

NTSB says on May 8th, 2009, the plane's right engine suddenly stopped working shortly after take off from the Alpine airport.

The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in the middle of a field; he only received minor injuries and was the only person on board.

We called O’Hara Flying Service, and they are declining to comment.

http://www.kwes.com/global/story.asp?s=12754477

Five Killed in Plane Crash Near Alpine

Posted: Jul 04, 2010 4:07 PM CDT

Updated: Jul 04, 2010 11:21 PM CDT

Video Gallery

Five Killed in Plane Crash Near Alpine (7-4-10)

4:10

Staff Report

NewsWest 9

ALPINE - Five people from West Texas are dead after a medical plane crashed early Sunday morning after taking off from the airport in Alpine.

Brewster County Sheriff Ronnie Dodson tells NewsWest9 that his office got a call about a plane going down around 12:15 Sunday morning.

Dodson says the plane is a Cessna 421 medical plane that carries patients to hospitals in the Midland-Odessa area when needed.

The Associated Press reports the plane was heading for Midland International Airport before it crashed. The Texas Department of Public Safety says the pilot was apparently trying to make an emergency landing when the plane hit a rut, overturned and burned.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has released the names of the victims.

•Mary Folger, 73, of Midland

•Richard Folger, 78, of Midland

•Sharon Falkner, 49, a medic from Fort Davis

•Tracy Chambers, 42, a medic from Alpine

•Ted Caffarel, 59, a pilot who recently moved to Alpine from Beaumont

DPS says that Mary Folger was the patient on board the plane.

"We've had about 4 plane crashes this year you know with just small planes with very minor injuries," Sheriff Dodson said. "In fact one of them was with this company, but all of them were minor injury plane crashes. Crop duster planes another federal government plane, but this by far is the worst. With two family members, the medics and the pilot."

"It is something that is very important for us to find out why these accidents are continuing to happen," NTSB Chief Investigator Jennifer Rodi said. "We've issued a pleothra of recommendations to the industry regarding these types of accidents yet unfortunately they seem to continue to occurs. So, with luck maybe we'll be able to identify something in this particular accident where the change has or has not been made that we've recommended. And see if we can provide additional support for those recommendations."

The crash scene is just northeast of the Alpine airport. FAA officials are at the scene and officials with the NTSB are expected to be in Alpine by Sunday night from Colorado.

AP reports the FAA lists the aircraft as registered to O'Hara Flying Service II LP of Amarillo. Company owner Denny O'Hara declined to comment to The Associated Press.

The plane was on fire and exploded several times when Brewster County Deputies arrived on the scene early Sunday morning, but none of the deputies were injured while responding.

[FireMedic65]

this is terrible... my condolences to their friends and families.

[Richard B the EMT]

We spoke to an investigator with the NTSB who said this investigation could take up to 8 months. She says they are bringing focus to emergency air ambulance accidents nationwide.

While there have been numerous small fixed wing crashes in recent times, this is the first one with an air ambulance. Most I have read about have been involving helicopters.

Please add my condolences to family and service family members.

[spenac]

Now that this has happened the local news has jumped on the bandwagon of air ambulance safety.

http://www.cbs7.com/news/details.asp?ID=20433

[Aussieaid]

While there have been numerous small fixed wing crashes in recent times, this is the first one with an air ambulance. Most I have read about have been involving helicopters.

Not being picky here but just as a note, almost a third of the air ambulance crashes in the last 5 years (fixed and rotor) have been airplanes. This is just the first one since 2007. They are all equal tragedies but the airplanes have a lot of the same problems as the helicopters with the majority of the causes being poor judgement and pilot error. Actual mechanical failures (like this one sounds like) don't account for as many as you would think.

My condolences to family and friends of those lost in this latest tragedy.

[spenac]

Well Sharon's memorial service is this afternoon. I will miss her greatly.

[rat115]

Well Sharon's memorial service is this afternoon. I will miss her greatly.

Special hugs to you, spen. It really sucks when a friend is lost in such a tragic way.