Plane crash kills three at airport
By Kevin Graham, Justin George and Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writers
In print: Friday, July 18, 2008
TAMPA — For 20 years, pilot Harlan "Lanny" Northcott shuttled patients across the country for medical appointments.
His single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza was his pride and joy, and he didn't mind using it to serve others.
Northcott, 81, of Sun City Center died Thursday doing just that. His plane crashed and burned at East Tampa's Vandenberg Airport, killing him and two passengers.
"All I can say at this point is he was doing what he liked to be doing, and he was helping people," said son Glenn Northcott, 39, of Houston, a pilot for Continental Airlines who flew into Tampa with his children Thursday to spend time with his father.
Authorities said Patricia Snyder, 49, and a family friend, Tyler McClellan, 15, both of Stuart, were onboard. She was being flown home after receiving medical treatment in Tampa when the plane may have hit a tower on takeoff, sheriff's officials said.
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Showing posts with label plane crash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plane crash. Show all posts
Friday, July 18, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Community prays for victims during vigil at fatal crash site
Community prays for victims during vigil at fatal crash site
By JULIE MURPHY
Staff Writer
SANFORD -- The vacant lot where Pete and Millie Dechat's house stood became a temple for fellowship Thursday and, in the shade of the neighboring house, a refuge from the July heat one year after a plane crash at the site killed five people, including 4-year-old Gabriela Dechat.
Before a candlelight vigil began at 6:30 p.m., Joe Woodard -- whose home also was destroyed by the crash -- took family and friends through the shell of the house he is rebuilding. His wife, Janise, 24, and 6-month old, JoSiah, were home when the Cessna crashed into it and died.
Woodard is rebuilding his life in the community that has seen him through hardship.
"Every block that goes up is a step closer," he said.
Michael Klemm piloted the plane for NASCAR Aviation. Dr. Bruce Kennedy, the husband of Lesa France Kennedy, president of International Speedway Corp., was his passenger. Neither man survived the fire in the cockpit and the accident that followed.
The Dechats were parishioners of the Sanford Alliance Church and friends of Pastor Roger Thomas, who led the vigil.
Pete Dechat, stepson Danny Happy, daughter Gabriela and wife Millie Dechat were home when the plane hit.
"The great miracle is with Pete and Danny," Pastor Thomas said as friends, family, neighbors and firefighters gathered in the street. "To me, they were burnt to death but survived. It was a 136 percent chance that Pete would not make it, and a 104 percent chance that Danny wouldn't."
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By JULIE MURPHY
Staff Writer
SANFORD -- The vacant lot where Pete and Millie Dechat's house stood became a temple for fellowship Thursday and, in the shade of the neighboring house, a refuge from the July heat one year after a plane crash at the site killed five people, including 4-year-old Gabriela Dechat.
Before a candlelight vigil began at 6:30 p.m., Joe Woodard -- whose home also was destroyed by the crash -- took family and friends through the shell of the house he is rebuilding. His wife, Janise, 24, and 6-month old, JoSiah, were home when the Cessna crashed into it and died.
Woodard is rebuilding his life in the community that has seen him through hardship.
"Every block that goes up is a step closer," he said.
Michael Klemm piloted the plane for NASCAR Aviation. Dr. Bruce Kennedy, the husband of Lesa France Kennedy, president of International Speedway Corp., was his passenger. Neither man survived the fire in the cockpit and the accident that followed.
The Dechats were parishioners of the Sanford Alliance Church and friends of Pastor Roger Thomas, who led the vigil.
Pete Dechat, stepson Danny Happy, daughter Gabriela and wife Millie Dechat were home when the plane hit.
"The great miracle is with Pete and Danny," Pastor Thomas said as friends, family, neighbors and firefighters gathered in the street. "To me, they were burnt to death but survived. It was a 136 percent chance that Pete would not make it, and a 104 percent chance that Danny wouldn't."
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Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Oakley cares for kids orphaned by plane crash
Oakley cares for kids orphaned by plane crash
Tyche Hendricks,Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writers
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
(06-30) 19:02 PDT Oakley - -- The east Contra Costa County town of Oakley was in mourning Monday for two couples deeply woven into the fabric of the community who died in a single-engine plane crash Saturday near Las Vegas, leaving seven children orphaned.
A U.S. flag flew at half-staff outside City Hall, and black ribbons festooned the "City of Oakley" signs there. The electronic sign board at the town's civic center read: "Our deepest sympathies to the families of Erik & Tanya Nunn and Craig & Michele Wilson."
Nowhere was the grieving greater - or the community response stronger - than in the well-kept subdivision where the two families lived less than a block apart, on Susie Street and Kali Court.
Cars clogged the driveways of both homes along with children's bikes and scooters, and a steady stream of friends and neighbors came and went. The parents and siblings of all four victims had settled in to care for the three Wilson children and the four Nunn kids.
Anne Marie Montes, who lives across from the Wilsons and around the corner from the Nunns, sat stunned on her front stoop. All the families in the neighborhood moved in together when their homes were built about five years ago, she said. The parents visit frequently, and the children play constantly.
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How to help
Donations can be made to:
-- The Nunn Children Trust and Wilson Children Trust at Bank of the West, 2195 Main St., Oakley, CA 94561 or call (925) 625-2211.
-- The Children of Craig Wilson Trust Fund, the BART Police Officers Association, P.O. Box 12688, Oakland, CA 94604 or call (510) 464-7182.
E-mail Tyche Hendricks at thendricks@sfchronicle.com.
Tyche Hendricks,Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writers
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
(06-30) 19:02 PDT Oakley - -- The east Contra Costa County town of Oakley was in mourning Monday for two couples deeply woven into the fabric of the community who died in a single-engine plane crash Saturday near Las Vegas, leaving seven children orphaned.
A U.S. flag flew at half-staff outside City Hall, and black ribbons festooned the "City of Oakley" signs there. The electronic sign board at the town's civic center read: "Our deepest sympathies to the families of Erik & Tanya Nunn and Craig & Michele Wilson."
Nowhere was the grieving greater - or the community response stronger - than in the well-kept subdivision where the two families lived less than a block apart, on Susie Street and Kali Court.
Cars clogged the driveways of both homes along with children's bikes and scooters, and a steady stream of friends and neighbors came and went. The parents and siblings of all four victims had settled in to care for the three Wilson children and the four Nunn kids.
Anne Marie Montes, who lives across from the Wilsons and around the corner from the Nunns, sat stunned on her front stoop. All the families in the neighborhood moved in together when their homes were built about five years ago, she said. The parents visit frequently, and the children play constantly.
click post title for more
How to help
Donations can be made to:
-- The Nunn Children Trust and Wilson Children Trust at Bank of the West, 2195 Main St., Oakley, CA 94561 or call (925) 625-2211.
-- The Children of Craig Wilson Trust Fund, the BART Police Officers Association, P.O. Box 12688, Oakland, CA 94604 or call (510) 464-7182.
E-mail Tyche Hendricks at thendricks@sfchronicle.com.
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