ACCORDING
TO THE GAINESVILLE FLORIDA SUN NEWSPAPER---MORE THAN 20
PILOTS FLEW OUT OF THE WILLISTON, FLORIDA AIRPORT BEFORE ONE
OF THEM NOTICED THE WRECKAGE OF A PLANE THAT KILLED A
PIKE COUNTY COUPLE AND THEIR TWO SMALL CHILDREN SATURDAY
AFTERNOON.
NATHAN
ENDERS AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLER , HIS WIFE LAURA AND THEIR
TWO SMALL KIDS PERISHED IN THE CRASH OF A VINTAGE CESSNA THAT
WAS DISCOVERED 21 HOURS AFTER IT WENT DOWN. AN OLDER SON
WAS NOT WITH THEM ON THE TRIP.
THE
AIRPORT HOSTED A BAR B Q FLY-IN EVENT SATURDAY AFTERNOON
AND POLICE SAID THE PLANE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF AT 3;10PM
AND CRASHED ABOUT 150 FEET BEFORE THE TREE LINE AT THE
NORTH END OF THE TAXIWAY.
BETWEEN
20 AND 30 AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRPORT AFTER THE
CRASH SATURDAY BUT IT WAS A JET PILOT LEAVING THE AIRPORT
SUNDAY AFTERNOON WHO FIRST ALERTED AUTHORITIES.
ACCORDING
TO THE NTSB---THE CESSNA WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN EMERGENCY
LOCATOR TRANSMITTER THAT CONTINUED TO SEND A RADIO SIGNAL
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTICED BY PILOTS WITHIN 2 OR 3
MILES EVEN IF THE ANTENNA WAS DAMAGED.
IT
WILL BE A WEEK OR SO BEFORE THE PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE
CRASH IS AVAILABLE FROM THE NTSB—BUT WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE
GOOD AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH.
NATHAN
ENDERS IS A FORMER FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR
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