Crash Kills Pilot; Passenger Survives
A single-engine plane crashed after taking off from El Mirage Dry Lake about 10 miles northwest of here, killing the pilot and critically injuring his passenger, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.
Deputies said the plane had reached an altitude of about 100 feet when it turned sharply to the left, stalled and slammed onto the lake bed. Investigators said there was no evidence of mechanical failure in the accident, which occurred at about 5 p.m. Sunday.
The pilot was identified as Larry Plank. His passenger, John Quackenboss, was hospitalized at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. No hometowns or ages for the men were given.
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