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Planes explode; pilot, 2 boys die

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From Times Wire Reports

A small plane struck another craft as it was landing Friday night at McCall Municipal Airport, killing a pilot and his grandsons, ages 1 and 6, and critically injuring his 2-year-old grandson, who was pulled from the burning wreckage by the landing plane’s two occupants, officials said.

Both planes -- Cessna 172s -- exploded, said Ian Gregor, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman.

Authorities identified the dead pilot as Bill Keating, 52.

His surviving grandson was flown to the University of Utah Hospital’s Burn Center in critical condition, authorities said.

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The pilot of the landing plane, Justin Mooney, 30, and passenger Mark Fuller, 27, pulled the 2-year-old from the burning plane, authorities said. They were treated and released from McCall Memorial Hospital, a nursing supervisor said.

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