N.T.S.B. Report Due On Fatal Plane Crash
Sonora, CA — According to Stanislaus National Forest Patrol Captain Jay Harlie Power the National Transportation Safety Bureau has issued the following preliminary report regarding the April 18, 2008 private plane crash that killed two men in Tuolumne County.
The report reads as follows:
“On April 18 at 1250 Pacific Daylight Time a float equipped Cessna 150J, N60760 was substantially damaged when it impacted rugged terrain in the Emigrant Wilderness.
Seaplane Ventures, Inc. was operating the plane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight. The airplane departed from a private cattle ranch near Angels Camp 38 minutes before the accident. A flight plan had not been filed.
Digital photographic data recovered from the wreckage indicated that the plane flew directly to Cherry Lake Reservoir and made one landing approach from north to south at the north end of the reservoir. Then the plane reversed course and flew north into rising terrain.
An Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was received by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. Concerned friends of the overdue flight instructor and student commenced an aerial search. The airplane was located late that afternoon.
The airplane was found resting on its nose and the leading edges of its wings. The nose was crushed and the engine was displaced aft into the cabin. The wing leading edges were crushed aft to the wing spars and the forward ends of the floats were crushed aft to the forward attachment points.”
Killed in that crash were 38 year old Edmond Thomas “Ned” Snyder of Elk Grove and 56 year old Dave Cunningham of Walnut Creek.
The plane was disassembled and flown out of the area by a Huey helicopter. Cost of the removal was covered by insurance.
Written by Bill Johnson
