Sepia Saturday
Theme
Take Flight
Piper Cheyenne
Central Kentucky News-Journal, February 18, 1982
Eight Killed in Plane Crash near Springfield
A twin-engine turbo prop airplane crashed Tuesday in heavy fog in Washington County, claiming the lives of six adults and two children. Those dead include: David Lewis Ball, 38, Lebanon, his wife, Alice, 34, and their two sons, Chad, 5 and Lance, 18 months; Owen Isaacs, 62, and his wife, Louise, 61; Douglas Baker, 31, pilot from Charlestown, Ind.; and John Robert Watts, an engineer for B. T. Engineering Corp., Louisville. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were at the scene Wednesday morning trying to piece together the parts of the crash puzzle. The plane wreck occurred in Washington County, about one mile from the landing strip at Lebanon-Springfield Airport. The plane appeared to hit the ground with "tremendous impact," said Gene Sundeen, air safety investigator from Atlanta and the man in charge of the crash investigation. According to Sundeen, the plane struck a hillside and left a full impressi!
on of itself in the ground. It apparently then bounced, caught on fire and eventually came to rest 400 yards from the point of original impact. "I doubt if they were alive after the impact," said J. Gordon Nichols, public information officer for Kentucky Disaster and Emergency Services (DES). The bodies of the victims were originally taken to Bosley Funeral Home in Lebanon and later to University Hospital in Louisville for autopsies. Initial impact of the plane was about 250 feet from some power lines. The plane evidently passed over the power lines and then crashed. According to Sundeen, it didn't look like the power lines played a part in the crash. Sundeen and two other investigators began work yesterday and said they would probably be at the crash site most of today gathering information for an investigation. The plane was believed to be owned by Pipe Aircraft Corp., Muncie, Ind., contrary to initial reports that the plane was owned by Ball Brothers Oil Company,!
Lebanon. A flight plan was filed in Mobile, Ala., Tuesday, listing t
he Lebanon-Springfield Airport as the destination. David Ball was a partner in the family-owned Ball Brothers Oil Company, Lebanon. Ball is a brother to Garland Ball, owner of West Main Phillips 66 here in Campbellsville. The Balls and Mrs. Ball's parents were said to be returning from a vacation trip. Sundeen said he did not know how much affect the weather might have had on the crash. He said it might take 90 days to get all the information necessary to make a determination in as to the cause of the wreck. According to Don Patterson, public affairs officer for State Police Post 15, the airplane was evidently making a second pass at the landing strip when the craft - a Piper Cheyenne - got too low. The wreck area was cordoned off by investigating officials. It may take several days to clear the area of debris, according to those in charge.
I was 45 years old and the mother of 6 children.
Eight Killed in Plane Crash near Springfield
A twin-engine turbo prop airplane crashed Tuesday in heavy fog in Washington County, claiming the lives of six adults and two children. Those dead include: David Lewis Ball, 38, Lebanon, his wife, Alice, 34, and their two sons, Chad, 5 and Lance, 18 months; Owen Isaacs, 62, and his wife, Louise, 61; Douglas Baker, 31, pilot from Charlestown, Ind.; and John Robert Watts, an engineer for B. T. Engineering Corp., Louisville. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were at the scene Wednesday morning trying to piece together the parts of the crash puzzle. The plane wreck occurred in Washington County, about one mile from the landing strip at Lebanon-Springfield Airport. The plane appeared to hit the ground with "tremendous impact," said Gene Sundeen, air safety investigator from Atlanta and the man in charge of the crash investigation. According to Sundeen, the plane struck a hillside and left a full impressi!
on of itself in the ground. It apparently then bounced, caught on fire and eventually came to rest 400 yards from the point of original impact. "I doubt if they were alive after the impact," said J. Gordon Nichols, public information officer for Kentucky Disaster and Emergency Services (DES). The bodies of the victims were originally taken to Bosley Funeral Home in Lebanon and later to University Hospital in Louisville for autopsies. Initial impact of the plane was about 250 feet from some power lines. The plane evidently passed over the power lines and then crashed. According to Sundeen, it didn't look like the power lines played a part in the crash. Sundeen and two other investigators began work yesterday and said they would probably be at the crash site most of today gathering information for an investigation. The plane was believed to be owned by Pipe Aircraft Corp., Muncie, Ind., contrary to initial reports that the plane was owned by Ball Brothers Oil Company,!
Lebanon. A flight plan was filed in Mobile, Ala., Tuesday, listing t
he Lebanon-Springfield Airport as the destination. David Ball was a partner in the family-owned Ball Brothers Oil Company, Lebanon. Ball is a brother to Garland Ball, owner of West Main Phillips 66 here in Campbellsville. The Balls and Mrs. Ball's parents were said to be returning from a vacation trip. Sundeen said he did not know how much affect the weather might have had on the crash. He said it might take 90 days to get all the information necessary to make a determination in as to the cause of the wreck. According to Don Patterson, public affairs officer for State Police Post 15, the airplane was evidently making a second pass at the landing strip when the craft - a Piper Cheyenne - got too low. The wreck area was cordoned off by investigating officials. It may take several days to clear the area of debris, according to those in charge.
I was 45 years old and the mother of 6 children.
The night this happened was one of the most devastating in our lives.
These folks were our friends.
I have flown several times and never been afraid.
These folks are the only ones I ever knew that died in a plane crash.
One of daughter's husband is a pilot and they own their own plane.
One of daughter's husband is a pilot and they own their own plane.
They have just flown to the east coast just 2 hours by air. They do this all the time.
We worry about them any time they are in the air.
Our SIL is an accomplished well trained pilot and will never plan a flight when the weather is bad or on the way.
Our kids have a Cessna.
They will be in the air on their way home tomorrow.
I know they are as safe and maybe even safer than on the highway.
That is all I know about flight.
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They will be in the air on their way home tomorrow.
I know they are as safe and maybe even safer than on the highway.
That is all I know about flight.
Go here for more Sepia Saturday
12 comments:
A tragic story, Peggy. You make a good point about the realtive safety of air travel though.
Such a tragic loss- so sorry you lost your friends.
I don't like to fly anymore- and probably will never board a plane again. But I know it is silly to be afraid of flying.
How awful for you. I'm sure your family will be fine and perhaps the storms will all be gone by the time they plan to head on home. If not, well, even the best of plans can be broken and remade--they can alter their flight times to accommodate mother nature.
That was a frightening and horrifying post.
Oh how terribly awful, these kinds of tragic endings are so hard ...and one never forgets, especially those we loved dearly.
That was such a sad story. Especially when thinking of the young children on board. And especially because you knew those in the accident.
Nancy
Oh, I am so sorry to hear about this tragedy, and can see how you worry when your family is in flight.
God bless,
Kathy M.
That’s a very sad story Peggy, but you are right to point out that these days flying is relatively safe. I’m sorry you lost your friends in this way.
What a story. How something that seems so "easy" like flying (or driving for that matter) can forever change us. I am so sorry for your loss.
Blessings,
Daniella
Among all the posts that celebrate the joys of flying, it is necessary to remember the tragedies as well and the sudden loss that can never be forgotten.
Weather conditions, mental disposition, a good mechanic and a properly checked plane, and everything should be fine.
But losing friends is a burden we sometimes have to face in this life,
sadly.
Thanx 4 sharing this darker chapter in your life. Keeps it real!!
HUGZ
A friend's father used to work for the NTSB and was always traveling to crash sites. He'd come home with suitcases with parts that he'd analyze. He was also a survivor of Pearl Harbor.
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