Happy trip turned tragic

Teen, Family Friend From Upstate Killed In AZ Plane Crash - WSPA.com

I don't know why Julie asked me a few weeks ago if I every knew anyone that had perished in a plane or car crash. I said no to plane, but yes, auto of course. I'm sad to say that we all probably know of someone that has been killed in an auto accident.

Well, just a few days later I had to say I knew someone who perished in a plane crash. I cannot believe it. We always like to talk to folks at the airport (KAND and KCEU). It's kind of like Ferraris. You meet the neatest people because of the them.

This past winter we noticed a really nice looking black and white M20- a 1961 M20B N74584. I like Mooneys. Where else can you get good speed and low fuel burn in an aircraft that age? And they look good, even with the tail turned.. as I have read what everyone but Mooney and Mooney owners would say is backwards. So it was fun talking to Mike about his new purchase, and how he was really enjoying it to the max. He said it was an incredible deal especially for the capabilities of the plane.

Just a few weeks ago we saw him out by his hanger, and stopped by to chat. We asked if he had any major flights planned and he excitedly talked about something he had always wanted to do. He told us about his cross country trip he was taking next week to California and back. He had always wanted to see the country from his own plane, and his new Mooney was going to make that possible. We chatted about our recent fight over the Grand Canyon in a SR20, and mentioned he should land at 1G4 Grand Canyon West and check out the Skywalk.

A few days ago Julie called me to say you will never believe what I just found out. It was tragic, tragic, tragic. Not just for Mike but for the 15 year old young man that was with him. His wife had been along, but flew out as she had to get back for work.

Coincidentally, this weekend I was talking to a pilot from KCEU who had just been in Page AZ for a Touring Motor Glider convention. As he was fueling, two civil air patrol members just happened to walk pass him and mention that they had just found the location of the Mooney that went down. He had just a few days prior met a German couple who flew through Page with their Mooney to tour the US and he was so afraid it was them. He had no idea that the tragedy was much closer to home.

I admired him for the way he would take care of his plane, even snapped a picture of him cleaning the greasy belly that I meant to email him. He loved his plane and loved to fly, it was obvious.

It is a sadness.
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