Plane Crash in Superstition Mountains

[Desert Dweller]

The Channel 5 KPHO web site is reporting a plane has crashed into the Superstition Mountains near Flat Iron.  There are no details on the type of plane.  They are showing raw video on their site.  Reports came in starting about 6:30 tonight.

[the.pixie.stick.chick]

... you'd have known all this within minutes if you had Facebook ...
*hint*nudge*hint*

[Desert Dweller]

PHOENIX (KPHO) - A small plane crashed and burst into flames near the peak of the Superstition Mountains in an area called Flat Iron, east of Phoenix, Wednesday night.

The Rockwell AC69 twin engine aircraft "crashed under unknown circumstances," FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer said in a statement. The plane is registered to Ponderosa Aviation in Safford.

Multiple witnesses reported a fireball and an explosion around 6:30 p.m.

A source at Falcon Field in Mesa tells CBS 5 the pilot flew in from Safford to pick up his children and says when they were returning to Safford the two-engine plane crashed. The source tells CBS 5 there were three adults and three children onboard.

The crash site is located in rugged terrain near the top of the mountain. Pinal County sheriff's deputies were reporting difficulty accessing the area.

A witness hit our CBS 5 Action Button on KPHO.com. Witness Ronnie Brant lives in Fountain Hills. He says he's an aircraft mechanic and heard the plane fly over his house and it was having engine trouble.

http://www.kpho.com/story/16114716/plane-crashes-into-superstition-mountains

[mallardisme]

Face what?

LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzl0eKnXoi0&feature=youtu.be

3 adults, 3 children.

Very sad.

[mallardisme]

For Twitter folks, @JesseJHamilton is a great source. He was with one of the Valley network stations and is now with TWC in Atlanta. He still keeps a very valid eye on the Phoenix area.

He has sent me some great news tips since he left.

[xiØn]

Very sad day.

I saw the plane go down and thought it was a meteor at first. Kinda surreal. I've always been fascinated with plane crashes. Never thought I'd actually witness one.

I had a news anchor from KKTV (CBS in Colorado Springs) contact me and have me do an ON AIR phone interview on what I saw.

[Tangled]

So very sad.

This is one of my friends very good friends family. I was so sad to read her facebook status update this am.

Father worked as a pilot for US Airways she said. The eldest child had epilepsy and had multiple brain surgeries and the youngest had Autism. The surviving mother fighting breast cancer.

Terribly sad. 

[momto2]

Tangled,
Is there anything we can do for this Mom? My heart aches for her, makes me wanna give my son who has epilepsy and two brain surgeries also a great big hug! I can't imagine what kind of pain she is going thru right now!

[Tangled]

Very good question, let me find out from Kelly and get back to everyone!!

[Tangled]

They are looking for donations to help Karen pay for funeral expenses.  Here is the information I have -

Perry family through the Funeral Fund at the Gold Canyon Bank, at 6641 S. Kings Ranch Rd., #2, Gold Canyon, Ariz., 85118.

[momto2]

Okay, thanks! I guess we have to mail it in.....

[mallardisme]

They are looking for donations to help Karen pay for funeral expenses.  Here is the information I have -

Perry family through the Funeral Fund at the Gold Canyon Bank, at 6641 S. Kings Ranch Rd., #2, Gold Canyon, Ariz., 85118.

Thanks Tangled, This was a really sad story. They were going to be wed in 3 weeks.
Mallard

[Desert Dweller]

The story did make national news - including the hardship that the mom is going through.  I am sure that there will be a lot of generosity from across the entire country, and it's well deserved.  Losing your entire family at once is bad enough.  Doing it while battling cancer is unbelievably tough.