Four Killed in Crash of Light Plane During Practice of Takeoffs, Landings
A single-engine light airplane crashed and burst into flames, killing its pilot and three passengers, while practicing landings and takeoffs Wednesday afternoon at Meadows Field airport in Bakersfield.
Kern County officials said the airplane, a Beechcraft Bonanza, was based at Meadows Field, but a spokeswoman for the coroner’s office said the bodies were so badly burned that identification will be difficult.
Fire Department dispatcher Carrie Jones said witnesses told firefighters that the airplane “was making touch-and-goes (practice landings followed by immediate takeoffs) when it apparently developed engine trouble” at the far end of the asphalt runway.
“It got into the air again,” she said, “but apparently the pilot tried to turn back to the field, lost flying speed and went in. . . . “
Jones said the airplane crashed about 100 yards beyond the northwest end of the runway. Within seconds, witnesses reported, the cabin and left wing were enveloped in flames.
Firefighters reached the wreck in less than a minute, according to Fire Department spokesman Bill Alexander.
“But all they could do was put out the fire and remove the bodies,” he said.
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