Manhattan Beach Resident’s Plane Crashes in Grand Canyon
A small airplane registered to a Manhattan Beach resident crashed inside the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on Friday morning, killing at least one person, authorities said.
Paul Capek’s single-engine plane, a Mooney 20, was en route from Torrance Municipal Airport to Colby, Kan., when it plunged into the canyon at 10:15 a.m., according to the National Transportation Safety Board. It was not known how many people were aboard the aircraft, or whether the 39-year-old owner and pilot was on the four-seat plane. Coconino County, Ariz., deputies recovered one body Friday afternoon.
About 50 tourists witnessed the fiery crash, according to the Sheriff’s Department. The crash occurred near Pima Point at the top of a hiking trail on the west side of the South Rim.
A rescue crew was sent into the rugged hiking area by helicopter, according to Sheriff’s Deputy Linda Kuczynski. She said rescue attempts were hampered by a thunderstorm, which may have contributed to the crash.
According to Andy Anderson, who has a hangar several doors down from Capek’s, the owner of the plane is a radiologist who often flies alone.
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