San Diego
A passenger killed when an experimental airplane crashed in Bakersfield early this week was identified Thursday as Michael Reagan, 24, of San Diego.
Reagan and pilot Bruce Arnold Beach, 54, also of San Diego, died Sunday when the homemade fiberglass airplane crashed and caught fire at Bakersfield Airpark.
Cal Baker, manager of the airport, said a person working in a hangar saw the airplane coming in for a landing and then start climbing again. The same person heard the engine sputter, then heard the airplane crash but did not see the impact. Baker said the engine apparently died and the pilot tried to turn at a low altitude without power. He said it crashed 300 feet from the center line of the runway.
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