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National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Data Summary: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
NTSB Identification: WPR12FA091
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, February 04, 2012 in Show Low, AZ
Probable Cause Approval Date: 04/25/2013
Aircraft: CESSNA T206H, registration: N445GH
Injuries: 2 Fatal,2 Serious.
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The private pilot departed before dawn in the single-engine airplane with three passengers. One passenger reported that after an uneventful departure, the airplane made an unexpected right turn, with no comment from the pilot. A ground witness observed the airplane in an unusual attitude shortly after takeoff. The airplane then flew out of her view, and a few seconds later, she observed an explosion beyond the runway. The debris field and associated ground scars were adjacent and perpendicular to the runway. The airplane damage and debris distribution were consistent with a high-speed, right-wing-low descent into the ground. All sections of the airplane were located at the accident site, and no anomalies were noted with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The damage to the propeller and turbocharger was consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact.
The airport's automated weather observation system was reporting 8-mile visibility, but with low broken cloud ceilings about the time the pilot would have been performing his preflight inspection. A rapid degradation in weather conditions occurred over the 10-minute-period following the accident, including freezing dense fog and low overcast cloud ceilings. The airport was located on the outskirts of a town, and the route of flight following the initial turn was toward a sparsely populated area. The moon was below the horizon at the time of the accident.
The pilot did not possess an instrument rating, which coupled with the lighting and weather conditions, could have made him vulnerable to spatial disorientation. The airplane's impact trajectory was consistent with the pilot experiencing this phenomenon. Additionally, an instrument-rated pilot departed from the same runway shortly after the accident unaware that it had occurred. He reported that before departure, he could see haze beginning to form close to the ground but could still see clear skies in his direction of travel and presumed that visual meteorological conditions existed. However, during the initial climb, he inadvertently entered a fog layer, and became disoriented.
The pilot had been taking prescription medication for anxiety, the use of which he did not report in any application for a Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate. Although use of such medication may impair the mental and/or physical ability required for flight, it was not possible to conclusively determine what role, if any, the medication played in the accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s encounter with low clouds/low visibility conditions during the initial climb, which resulted in spatial disorientation and loss of airplane control.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On February 4, 2012, about 0630 mountain standard time, a Cessna T206H, N445GH, collided with level terrain shortly after takeoff from Show Low Regional Airport, Show Low, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and two passengers sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence, and was partially consumed by post impact fire. The personal flight departed Show Low about 1 minute prior to the accident, with a planned destination of Boulder City Municipal Airport, Boulder City, Nevada. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot and passengers were traveling to attend a convention in the Las Vegas area, which was due to start at 1030 Pacific standard time.
A witness who was traveling in her automobile northbound on route 77, about 1,000 feet southwest of the departure end of runway 24, observed an airplane in the sky to her right. It appeared to be descending steeply, and traveling at a high rate of speed. She stated that she was familiar with operations at the airport, and initially thought the airplane was landing. She was concerned that it was flying much higher and faster than appropriate, and that it may overshoot the runway. The witness slowed down, concerned that the airplane may collide with her automobile, and it subsequently passed out of her view behind the elevated runway. She assumed it had landed; however, a few seconds later, she observed an explosion beyond the runway. She immediately reported the accident to her husband, who was a Battalion Chief based at a local fire station. She stated that she could clearly see the airplane prior to the accident, and observed the flashing strobe lights on both wings, as well as a white light. She did not see any smoke, fire, or vapors trailing from the airplane at any time. She reported that about 7 minutes after the accident, the area became enveloped in fog, such that she could no longer see the fire.
An instrument rated pilot departed his house for the airport at 0610. He stated that the weather conditions en route to the airport were clear, and that he could see stars in the sky. Airport security records revealed that he opened the airport gate at 0615. After removing his airplane from the hangar, he noticed haze forming around the street lamps. Concerned that the area may soon become enveloped in fog, he expedited his preflight checks and started the airplane's engine. He began to taxi to runway 24, and as he reached the intersection of runway 21 and the taxiway, the lights for runway 24 turned off. He turned them back on, and lined up the airplane for departure. He could see the runway lights clearly, and observed clear skies directly ahead. He began the takeoff roll, and took off. Once he reached an altitude of between 100 and 200 feet, he entered a cloud layer and lost ground reference. He realized he was inadvertently beginning a left turn, and became slightly disoriented. He began to fly the airplane by reference to the instruments, and just as he was about to turn on the autopilot, the airplane broke out into clear skies. He continued the flight, reporting that the sky was completely clear once he was about 1 mile west of the airport. He was unaware that there had just been an accident, and while he did not see fire on the ground, he stated that his focus was primarily with monitoring the airplane's flight instruments. The airplane did not accumulate any ice during takeoff and initial climb.
Only one of the surviving passengers recalled the accident sequence. She was located in an aft seat, and recalled that the pilot performed an uneventful preflight inspection, engine start, and taxi. The airplane then began the takeoff roll, and shortly after rotation, she felt it turn to the right. She was surprised that the airplane turned so soon, because she did not think they had gained enough altitude. She did not hear anyone talk during takeoff, and the pilot did not voice any concerns. Her next recollection was of waking up on the ground.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
A postmortem examination was conducted on the pilot by the Coconino County Health Department, Office of The Medical Examiner. The cause of death was reported as the effect of multiple blunt force injuries.
Toxicological tests on specimens from the pilot were performed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI). The results were negative for carbon monoxide and ingested ethanol, and the specimens were unsuitable for Cyanide analysis. The report contained the following findings for tested drugs:
>>Diclofenac detected in Urine
>>0.993 (ug/mL, ug/g) Lorazepam detected in Urine
>>0.011 (ug/mL, ug/g) Lorazepam detected in Blood
Refer to the toxicology report included in the public docket for specific test parameters and results.
The pilot held a third-class medical certificate issued in March 2010, with the limitations that he must have available glasses for near vision.
He reported on his most recent application for a medical certificate the use of prescription medications for the treatment of Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and hypothyroidism. Based on the thyroid condition, he was issued a 6-year authorization for special issuance of a medical certificate. As such, he was required to provide the FAA with a status of the condition prepared by his treating physician every 24 months. In September 2010, he provided a letter from a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, rather than his regular healthcare provider, stating that the thyroid condition was stable.
Review of his personal medical records revealed that he had been regularly prescribed Lorazepam since 2007 for the treatment of “anxiety and agitation.” He did not report the use of Lorazepam on any of his previous medical certificate applications.
According to CAMI, Lorazepam is a prescription benzodiazepine used for the management of anxiety disorders and for insomnia, with warnings that it may impair mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks. The therapeutic low and high blood levels are 0.1600 ug/mL, and 0.2700 ug/mL, respectively.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
A review of FAA airman records revealed that the 66-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land issued in July 2003.
No personal flight records were located, however, at the time of his last medical application, he reported a total flight time of 1,150 hours, with 60 hours in the previous 6 months. Family members reported that he flew the airplane regularly for business, and often early in the morning.
AIRPLANE INFORMATION
The high-wing, fixed landing gear airplane was manufactured in 2008, and equipped with a turbocharged, six-cylinder Lycoming engine, and a McCauley three-blade constant speed propeller.
The airplane was equipped with a Honeywell KC140 dual axis autopilot, and a Garmin G1000 Integrated Flight Deck, which included a primary and multifunction flight display. A conventional airspeed indicator, attitude indicator, and altimeter were provided as standby instruments.
According to maintenance records, the airplane had undergone its most recent 100-hour/annual inspection on July 14, 2011. At that time, the engine, airframe, and propeller had accumulated 319 hours since manufacture. The most recent maintenance entry was for an engine oil and filter change, and occurred on January 24 2012, at a tachometer time of 354 hours. Damage to the airplane's instruments precluded an accurate assessment of the total flight hours at the time of the accident.
Fueling records established that the airplane was last serviced on January 28, 2012, with the addition of 46.6 gallons of 100 low lead aviation fuel at Show Low Airport.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
Show Low Airport was equipped with an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS), located north of the airport, adjacent to the threshold of runway 24, and 4,500 feet east of the accident site.
An aviation routine weather report (METAR) was recorded at 0615. It reported calm wind; visibility 10 miles; 300 feet broken cloud ceiling; temperature -6 degrees C; dew point -7 degrees C; altimeter 30.15 inches of mercury. At 0635, the visibility had reduced to 8 miles, with a 200-feet overcast ceiling. Over the next 5 minutes the visibility decreased to 1 1/4 miles, and by 0651 freezing fog enveloped the airport, with 1/4-mile visibility and an overcast ceiling of 100 feet.
According to a representative from Lockheed Martin Flight Service, the pilot did not request any weather services. Additionally, there was no record of him obtaining a weather briefing from any Direct User Access Terminal (DUAT) provider. The pilot utilized the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) Internet Flight Planner to calculate his route the evening prior to the flight, but it could not be determined if he used this service for weather analysis. The flight planner indicated that his intended route of flight was on a northwest heading, direct from Show Low to Boulder City.
According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, Astronomical Applications Department, the beginning of civil twilight began at 0649 in Show Low, with sunrise occurring at 0716. Moonset occurred at 0439.
AIRPORT INFORMATION
The airport was located about 1 mile northeast of the outskirts of Show Low, and was immediately surrounded to the north, east, and south by uninhabited terrain.
Airport security records indicated that the pilot entered the airport at 0556. According to airport personnel, the pilot-operated runway lights will illuminate for 20 minutes before automatically switching off.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The accident site was located about 1,700 feet north of the approach end of runway 6, at an elevation of 6,371 feet mean sea level. The wreckage came to rest in level terrain, adjacent to a water catchment basin. The area was comprised of soft dirt and rocks, lightly interspersed with brush and low trees.
The first identified point of impact was characterized by a 10-inch-wide, 40-foot-long swath of excavated dirt. The ground excavation was oriented on a bearing of about 340 degrees magnetic. A section of wing tip rib was located at the initial disruption, and a green wing tip navigation lamp was located an additional 30 feet downrange. A second ground disruption began 25 feet northwest of the first impact point. This disruption was on a bearing of about 360 degrees, was 25 feet in length, and expanded to a width of 6 feet as it intersected the initial ground disruption. The second ground disruption was about 18 inches deep, and contained a segment of the right landing gear leg brake line, and a section of the nose landing gear scissor-assembly and shimmy-damper. Fragmented sections of the right landing gear wheel pant were dispersed around the area.
The debris field continued 260 feet further to the main wreckage, and contained fragments of insulation material, the remaining nose landing gear assembly, the upper engine cowling, and the pilot's door. The red wing tip navigation lamp was located in the center of the debris field. The nose wheel was located about 200 feet beyond the primary wreckage.
The primary airplane structure came to rest on a heading of 275 degrees. The main cabin had rotated onto its right side against a tree, exposing the inside of the aft cabin. The forward cabin flight instruments were mostly consumed by fire. The engine remained in line with the fuselage, but had separated from the firewall, and came to rest inverted. The right wing was folded underneath the engine, and sustained leading edge crush damage along its entire span, and thermal damage to the fuel tank. The left wing sustained leading edge crush damage to outboard section, starting at the flap/aileron junction, with similar thermal damage in the area of the fuel tank.
All major sections of the airframe and engine were accounted for at the accident site.
SURVIVAL ASPECTS
Both deceased occupants remained buckled into their respective front seats, which had become detached and ejected from the airframe. The first surviving occupant, located in the aft right seat, remained buckled into his seat, which had also broken free from its moorings and come to rest against the aft bulkhead. First response personnel subsequently removed him from the airplane as it continued to burn. The second surviving occupant was positioned in the rear left seat, which remained attached to the airframe. She was able to unbuckle her belt following the accident, and extricate herself from the wreckage.
All of the airplane's seats were equipped with a seatbelt airbag system manufactured by AmSafe. Examination revealed that all four airbags had deployed during impact.
TESTS AND RESEARCH
The following is a summary of the airframe and engine examination. No anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. A complete report is contained within the public docket.
Airframe
The tail section remained intact, and partially attached to the aft cabin at the bulkhead, which exhibited longitudinal twisting damage to its skin sections. The vertical and horizontal stabilizers sustained minimal damage, with all of their respective control surfaces remaining attached. The elevator trim tab actuator was examined; the distance between the actuator housing, and the eye-bolt corresponded to a 5-degree tab-down (takeoff) position when compared to Cessna documentation. The rudder and elevator control cables were continuous from their flight control horns through to their respective cabin control termination points.
The left and right aileron and both flaps remained attached to the wing, with their associated control cables continuous through to the wing root. The flap actuator motor was examined, and displayed actuator thread exposure consistent with a 20-degree flap position, when compared to Cessna documentation.
The backup flight instruments were recovered, and sustained extensive thermal damage, which precluded a determination of their operational status at the time of the accident.
Engine
The engine remained largely intact, and had sustained thermal damage to the oil sump, intake manifold, and all ancillary components. All three blades of the propeller remained attached to the hub, which remained attached to the crankshaft. Two blades exhibited chordwise abrasions, leading edge gouges, and tip twist, with the third blade curled aft at the hub.
The throttle, mixture, and propeller governor controls remained attached to their respective engine controls.
The top spark plugs for all cylinders were removed. Visual inspection of the combustion chambers was accomplished through the spark plug bores utilizing a borescope; there was no evidence of foreign object damage and all valve heads appeared intact. The engine’s internal mechanical continuity was established through to the accessory case by rotation of the crankshaft by hand. Cylinder compression was attained on all cylinders, and the rockers and valves appeared to move appropriately.
The turbochargers exhaust impellor blades appeared free of damage, with the assembly continuous to the intake impeller. The intake impeller’s six blades exhibited leading edge damage and bent and broken tips, with corresponding radial scoring of the intake chamber.
The vacuum pump was separated from the engine, and exhibited thermal exposure to its case, mounting pad, and drive coupling. The internal cavity was exposed, and both the rotor and vanes appeared intact.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
No radar coverage was available for the accident site at the airport elevation. Additionally, while the airplane's Integrated Flight Deck was capable of recording flight data, the non-volatile memory card required to store such information was not located, and presumed to have either been consumed by fire, or not installed.
NTSB Identification: WPR12FA091
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, February 04, 2012 in Show Low, AZ
Aircraft: CESSNA T206H, registration: N445GH
Injuries: 2 Fatal,2 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On February 4, 2012, at 0628 mountain standard (MST), a Cessna T206H, N445GH, collided with level terrain after takeoff from Show Low Regional Airport, Show Low, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certificated private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured, and two passengers sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence, and was partially consumed by post impact fire. The personal flight departed Show Low about 0627, with a planned destination of Boulder City Municipal Airport, Boulder City, Nevada. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed.
The passengers and pilot were destined for a convention in the Las Vegas area, which was due to start at 1030 Pacific daylight time on the day of the accident.
A witness who was traveling in her automobile north on Route 77, was about 1,000 feet southwest of the departure end of runway 24, when she observed an airplane to her right. The airplane appeared to be descending steeply, and traveling at a high rate of speed. She stated that she was familiar with operations at this airport, and was concerned that the airplane was flying much higher and faster than was appropriate, and that it may overshoot the runway. She slowed down, concerned that the airplane may collide with her automobile. The airplane passed out of her view behind the elevated runway, and she assumed it had landed. A few seconds later, she observed an explosion beyond the runway. She immediately reported the accident to her husband, who was a firefighter based at the airport fire station. She stated that she could clearly see the airplane prior to the accident, and observed the flashing strobe lights on both wings, as well as the white tail light. She did not see any smoke, fire, or vapors trailing from the airplane at any time. Seven minutes after the accident, the area became enveloped with fog, such that she could no longer see the fire.
An instrument rated pilot departed his house for the airport at 0610. He stated that the weather conditions for the ride to the airport were clear, and that he could see stars in the sky. Airport security records revealed that he opened the airport gate at 0615. After removing his airplane from the hangar, he noticed haze forming around the street lamps. Concerned that the area may soon become enveloped in fog, he expedited his preflight checks and started the airplane's engine. He began to taxi to runway 24, and as he reached the intersection of runway 21 and the taxiway, the lights for runway 24 turned off. He turned the lights back on, and lined up the airplane on runway 24 for departure. He could see the runway lights clearly, and observed clear skies directly ahead to the west. He began the takeoff roll, and took off. Once he reached an altitude of between 100 and 200 feet, he entered a cloud layer and lost ground reference. He realized he was inadvertently beginning a left turn, and became slightly disoriented. He began to fly the airplane by reference to the instruments, and just as he was about to turn on the autopilot, the airplane broke out into clear skies. He continued the flight, reporting that the skies were completely clear once he was about 1 mile west of the airport. He was unaware that there had just been an accident, and while he did not see fire on the ground, he stated that his focus at that time was primarily with monitoring the airplane's flight instruments. The airplane did not accumulate any ice during the event.
Show Low Airport was equipped with an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS), located north of the airport, adjacent to threshold of runway 24, 4,500 feet east of the accident site.
An aviation routine weather report (METAR) was recorded at 0615. It reported: calm winds; visibility 10 miles; 300 feet broken cloud ceiling; temperature -6 degrees C; dew point -7 degrees C; altimeter 30.15 inches of mercury. At 0635, the visibility had reduced to 8 miles, with a 200 feet overcast ceiling. At 0655, the weather had deteriorated further with visibilities of 1/4 mile in freezing fog, and an overcast cloud ceiling of 100 feet.
The accident site was located 1,700 feet north of the approach end of runway 6, at an elevation of 6,371 feet mean sea level. The terrain was level, and comprised of soft dirt and rocks, interspersed with brush and 10-feet-tall trees.
The first identified point of impact was characterized by a 10-inch-wide, 40-foot-long swath of excavated dirt. The ground excavation was oriented on a bearing of about 340 degrees magnetic. A section of wing tip rib was located at the initial disruption, and a green wing tip navigation light was located an additional 30 feet downrange. A second ground disruption began 25 feet northwest of the first impact point. This disruption was on a bearing of about 360 degrees, was 25 feet in length, and expanded to a width of 6 feet as it intersected the initial ground disruption. The second ground disruption was about 18 inches deep, and contained a segment of the right landing gear leg brake line, and a section of the nose landing gear scissor-assembly and shimmy-damper. Fragmented sections of the right landing gear wheel pant were dispersed around the area.
The debris field continued 260 feet further to the main wreckage, and contained fragments of insulation material, the remaining nose landing gear assembly, the upper engine cowling, and the pilot's door. The red wing tip navigation light was located in the center right-hand side of the debris field. The nose wheel was located about 200 feet beyond the primary wreckage, about 500 feet beyond the initial point of impact.
Two people from Snowflake-Taylor were killed in the crash.
Photo Credit: Ron Rosedale
Photo Credit: Terence Corrigan - The Independent
Captain Chris Francis and his fellow firefighters got the call around 6:30 a.m.
The dispatcher informed them a plane had gone down at the Show Low airport.
"We automatically expect the worst but hope for the best," said Francis by telephone Sunday.
Francis arrived to find a single engine Cessna off the runway and fully engulfed in flames.
Firefighters could also hear the sound of someone screaming for help.
"If we know there's a life to be saved, we're willing to risk our own lives to make that happen," said Francis.
So Francis ran toward the fire and found a total of four people.
Rescuers couldn't do anything for the couple in the front of the plane, therefore Francis focused in on 38-year- old Rob Hatch who sat trapped in one of the plane's rear seats.
"He had severe trauma injuries you'd expect with a high impact accident such as an aircraft collision," said Francis.
While other firefighters tended to 36-year-old Kelly Hatch on the outside of the plane, Francis eventually pulled her husband to safety.
Paramedics airlifted the couple to a hospital in Phoenix.
"It's definitely a team effort," said Francis. "Our shift worked together and accomplished the job".
One day later, Francis received word that Rob and Kelly hatch will survive.
"That's the best news we can get," said Francis. "It's good to know care is being continued and they're on the road to recovery."
The couple in the front of the plane are identified as 66-year-olds Gerald and Ruth Hatch of Snowflake.
Investigators say the Hatch family was headed to Las Vegas when the accident happened.
Source: http://www.abc15.com
Prominent auto dealer Gerald Hatch, who died in a predawn plane crash at Show Low Regional Airport Saturday, was a good pilot who didn't take chances, an airport employee said.
"He was conservative in his flying habits," said airport lineman Lou Booker. "It was a surprise to us when this happened."
Hatch and his wife, Ruth, both 66 years old, died about 6:30 a.m. when their single-engine Cessna 206 crashed 1,500 feet on state land north of the runway.
The Las Vegas-bound plane had just turned northwest, which was a standard takeoff.
The couple's son Rob Hatch, 38, and his wife, Kelly, 36, were passengers, and they remained in critical condition Sunday in a Phoenix hospital.
Gerald Hatch had auto dealerships in Show Low, Winslow and Snowflake. He flew out of the airport about twice a week, usually going to Phoenix or to his auto dealership in Winslow, Booker said.
Investigators from the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board arrived in Show Low on Saturday.
The crash will be more difficult than some to investigate because there were no witnesses, Booker said.
Although the airport is open 24 hours a day, it is staffed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and no employees had arrived at work at the time of the crash.
A motorist driving on Arizona 77 called authorities to report a fireball.
Although there was a blaze, fire did not totally consume the plane.
Winds were calm at takeoff.
"After the accident happened, there was fog," Booker said. "Whether there was fog at the time he attempted to take off, we don't know."
Show Low city manager Ed Muder described Gerald Hatch as a good businessman and a generous supporter of the community.
"Gerald wanted quality dealerships, and he built them up to be quality," Muder said.
"What stands out to me is how he tried to help different organizations. ... He personally would help raise donations for high schools, youth groups and such."
Muder added that the Hatches would be greatly missed.
"It's a big loss for Show Low and the entire White Mountain area."
Gerald and Ruth Hatch are survived by five sons and a daughter. Sons Guy and Gentry Hatch work in the family dealerships in Show Low, and Rob Hatch runs the dealership in Snowflake.
Seth Gaston,the husband of the Hatches' daughter, Jessica, works in a dealership in Show Low.
Gerald and Ruth Hatch were members of the Snowflake stake of the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com
SHOW LOW, Ariz -- Federal investigators are working to figure out what caused a deadly plane crash in Show Low Saturday morning.
Two Snowflake residents were killed and two others were seriously hurt.
A spokesman with the Show Low Police Department said the Cesna 206 Stationair TC single-engine plane crashed just after taking off from the Show Low Regional Airport.
The plane was engulfed in flames when police and fire units arrived.
Crews found Kelly Hatch, 36, alive 40 feet away from the wreck. Her husband, Rob Hatch, 38, was still in his seat when rescuers also found him alive in the cockpit area of the plane.
Rob's father, Gerald Hatch, and his wife, Ruth, were killed in the crash. Both were 66.
The family is well-known in the area. The Hatch family owns five car dealerships in the Show Low area. Rob is the general manager of the Snowflake Hatch GMC Dealership.
Family said the four were possibly traveling to Las Vegas for a car show.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash.
Kelly is being treated for serious injuries at the Maricopa County Burn Center in Phoenix and Rob is being treated at Good Samaritan Hospital.
PHOENIX (AP) — A small plane crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff Saturday in an eastern Arizona mountain community, killing a well-known rural Arizona auto dealer and his wife and seriously injuring his son and daughter-in-law.
The son was pulled from the burning plane by firefighters, while the daughter-in-law was found near the wreckage. Both were flown to Phoenix-area hospitals in critical condition.
The single-engine Cessna 206 crashed just before dawn and burst into flames moments after taking off from the Show Low airport en route to Las Vegas.
The four onboard were affiliated with a series of automobile dealerships in eastern Arizona mountain towns, Show Low police Sgt. Shawn Roby said.
The dead were identified as Gerald Hatch and his wife, Ruth Hatch, of Snowflake-Taylor. Both were 66.
Gerald's 38-year-old son, Rob Hatch, was pulled from the flaming airplane by firefighters, Show Low Police Chief Jeffrey Smythe said. His 36-year-old wife, Kelly Hatch, was outside the plane when firefighters arrived and was badly burned and had a broken femur.
Gerald Hatch was the primary owner of dealerships in Show Low, Winslow and Snowflake, Smythe said. They included two Ford dealerships.
Rob Hatch also worked for the dealerships, as did other family members.
It was foggy and cold at the time of the wreck, but it wasn't known if that contributed to the crash, Smythe said. A Federal Aviation Administration investigator was at the crash site, and one from the National Transportation Safety Board was headed to the town about 150 miles northeast of Phoenix Saturday afternoon.
The loss will be felt through the small communities, Smythe said.
"Clearly they've been here for decades and decades in the Snowflake-Taylor area," Smythe said. "That's where they all lived primarily is Snowflake-Taylor, but as businessmen here in Show Low they were very well-known and well-respected, and it's going to be a big impact."
The police chief said Rob Hatch owed his life to the firefighters.
The battalion chief was first to arrive at the scene and used a hand-held fire extinguisher to keep the flames away from Rob Hatch while crews got a hose running, he said.
"They didn't know how much fuel was left in it, and yet they stood right there by that plane and extricated Rob and got him out and absolutely saved his life," Smythe said.
"Which is what they get paid to do, yeah, but I don't think the average person can recognize the idea of intentionally running up to a flame ball and dragging a person out to save their life, and that's what these guys did this morning."
A plane crash in eastern Arizona has killed a well-known rural Arizona auto dealer and his wife and severely injured the man's son and his wife.
The single-engine plane crashed moments after taking off Saturday morning in Show Low.
Show Low police Sgt. Shawn Roby identified the dead as Gerald Hatch and his wife, Ruth Hatch, of Snowflake-Taylor. Both were 66.
Gerald Hatch's 38-year-old son, Rob Hatch, was pulled from the flaming airplane by firefighters. Rob Hatch and his 36-year-old wife, Kelly Hatch, were flown to Phoenix hospitals.
Police Chief Jeffrey Smythe says Gerald Hatch was the primary owner of a series of automobile dealerships in the eastern Arizona mountain communities of Show Low, Winslow and Snowflake.
Roby says Ruth, Rob and Kelly Hatch also were affiliated with the dealerships.
The plane was headed to Las Vegas.
SHOW LOW — Two people were killed and two others were critically injured in a plane crash early this morning (Feb. 4), just a few yards north of the west end of the runway at Show Low Regional Airport.
The two that were critically injured were taken to Summit Regional Medical Center awaiting air transport. The delay in the air ambulance flight was reportedly due to the heavy fog conditions in Show Low.
According to Show Low Police Chief Jeffrey Smythe, the identity of the victims has not been released pending notification of the family.
It is believed the victims were flying to either Phoenix or Las Vegas.
A motorist saw the plane and the fireball from the crash and reported it to police, Smythe said.
The plane crashed in a open area. The plane came to rest only a few plane-lengths from the point of impact. It is believed that the plane had just taken off from Show Low Airport and airport officials had to temporarily suspend fuel sales to determine if the plane was fueled up before takeoff.
The FAA and NTSB was notified and was enroute to the crash site by 7:30 a.m.
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The Cessna 206 single-engine airplane crashed at 6:29 a.m. after takeoff in in rugged terrain less than a mile north of Show Low Regional Airport, Kenitzer said.
The plane was registered to Show Low Ford Inc.
Show Low Police Chief Jeffrey Smythe said the plane was enroute to the Las Vegas area. He said the injured were in critical condition.
A male and female died and a male and female were taken to the hospital, Smythe said.
He said the victims' names and residences are expected to be released later today.
Although there was fog in the area, Smythe declined to speculate on the cause of the crash.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating this accident.
