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Jun. 29, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

MOUNT CHARLESTON: Four die in plane crash

Blaze forces Kyle Canyon evacuations

By LAWRENCE MOWER and JOHN L. SMITH
REVIEW-JOURNAL

The wreckage of a plane smolders as it rests against a tree following an early Saturday afternoon crash in Kyle Canyon on Mount Charleston. Four people were killed in the crash.
Photo by Jim Laurie/Special to the Review-Journal



A firefighter douses a fire caused by a fatal plane crash on Mount Charleston Saturday. Four people died in the crash.
Photo by Jim Laurie/Special to the Review-Journal



• A photo taken from the Mount Charleston Lodge shows the fire Saturday just after a single-engine airplane crashed.
Photo courtesy Gretchen Wehmhoff



Graphic by Mike Johnson



Firefighters fight a blaze ignited Saturday by the crash of a plane in Kyle Canyon on Mount Charleston. Witnesses say the plane clipped power lines and crashed near houses in the canyon.
Photo by Jim Laurie/Special to the Review-Journal



Part of a landing gear lies Saturday near the site of a fatal plane crash in Kyle Canyon on Mount Charleston. The plane had taken off from the North Las Vegas Airport carrying four passengers.
Photo by Jim Laurie/Special to the Review-Journal

A single-engine plane crashed Saturday afternoon into the side of Mount Charleston, killing the four people on board and sparking a wildfire that forced the evacuation of some homes in the mountain community.

Firefighters late Saturday night continued to battle the blaze, which had consumed 12 acres near homes in Kyle Canyon.

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    • The plane, a Piper Cherokee, had four passengers when it took off from the North Las Vegas Airport bound for the Northern California town of Byron, according to a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman.

    At 2:45 p.m., the aircraft swooped through Kyle Canyon at a low altitude, witnesses said, and clipped several power lines along Echo Road.

    At 2:55 p.m., emergency calls came pouring in to authorities indicating that the plane had crashed, just a few hundred feet from homes, according to Clark County Fire Department spokesman Scott Allison.

    "It was taking out trees and breaking up into pieces on the way down," Allison said.

    Authorities found no survivors.

    FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said officials did not know why the plane went down.

    Before it crashed, the plane was flying through uncontrolled airspace -- where there's no requirement to obtain permission to fly -- and was not communicating with air traffic control, Gregor said.

    Eyewitness Russell Hayden was at his father's house in the Kyle Canyon neighborhood along Echo Road when he saw the plane shoot by the window about 20 feet from his house.

    "I've heard a lot of airplane engines," Hayden said. The pilot "was revving the heck out of that engine, trying to gain altitude, I think."

    Hayden said he ran outside and found power lines and power poles had been knocked down.

    When he got to the crash site, about 200 feet from Echo Road, he saw three bodies that were badly burned, he said.

    Fire from the wreckage spread to surrounding trees, according to Hayden's sister, Kristina Hayden.

    "They lit up like candles, quite literally," she said.

    The blaze, which was threatening 38 structures, was 20 percent contained by 9 p.m. Saturday, according to the federal Bureau of Land Management.

    Firefighters were expected to continue battling the blaze until this morning, Allison said.

    The fire prompted the evacuation of homes in the Echo subdivision and the Mount Charleston Lodge.

    Witnesses described a plane that was flying abnormally low and losing altitude, even as it approached homes on Mount Charleston.

    Richard Green, 56, was staying at one of the campgrounds along Kyle Canyon Road when he saw the plane fly over.

    "I looked up and thought, 'That plane just looks too low,'" Green said. "It just didn't seem like a normal flight path."

    An eyewitness in the Rainbow subdivision, 11/4 miles from the crash site, saw the plane circle overheard, then turn up the canyon.

    Witnesses said the plane was flying about 1,000 feet over the Rainbow subdivision.

    By the time it passed over the Old Town subdivision, one mile away, it was less than 100 feet off the ground.

    The plane was so low, Old Town cabin owner Ilean Eyler said she looked up and saw two people in the plane.

    Eyewitness Deanna Rabice, a two-year resident of the Echo subdivision, looked out her living room window and saw the plane nearly clip the power line that is outside her house.

    It was approximately 20 feet off the ground and crashed less than 100 yards away.

    "I saw the bottom of the whole airplane just miss my power line."

    Chicago native Marcus Padgett, 49, who was dining with a friend at the Mount Charleston Lodge, saw the plane fly past.

    "I was thinking, 'Man, that thing is low,'" he said.

    After it crashed, guests on the patio watched the flames. About 10 minutes later, the staff at the restaurant told everyone to leave, Padgett said.

    Firefighters and officials from the U.S. Division of Forestry, Nevada Division of Forestry, BLM, Clark County and city of Las Vegas fire departments, Metropolitan Police Department and Nevada Highway Patrol all responded to the crash.

    Authorities blocked Kyle Canyon Road past the turnoff to Lee Canyon Road as emergency vehicles raced down the road and helicopters and a plane dumped water and fire retardant on the fire.

    Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440. Contact columnist John L. Smith at Smith@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0295.



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    Amalia wrote on July 22, 2008 03:11 AM: Hi..
    My name is Amalia and I'm from Spain..
    All the summers I go to EE.UU. to learn English..and one year ago my host family was Tonia and Erik Nunn..they were really nice people and if it will be possible I would like to know if anybody know something about their chlidren..
    I'm really sad..I can't believe this happened..
    I know my English is really bad so I hope somebody can understand me..
    Thank you..
    Amalia


    Mike B wrote on June 29, 2008 11:14 PM: I arrived at the site 30-60 seconds after impact via truck. The main crash site was 50-100 feet from the road in the trees though there was some small debris (including some landing gear) on the road. There was also a power line down in the road. I had been hiking and after having someone call 911, upon arriving at the site, me and a friend made an attempt to look for survivors. The intense fire made any attempt futile and it was clear there would be no survivors. The fuel from the ac had sprayed over a large area into the big pine trees and igniteded immediately on impact. The very dry conditions made for an instant inferno. The heat was so intense, even standing on the edge of the road, that it was impossible to approach further. I could just make out bits of wreckage in the middle of the blaze. We told local people to get the neighbors ready to evacuate and we left the scene realizing the MASSIVE fire danger and coming traffic snarl. We left just as the first local fire truck arrived. We had been climbing on MT Charleston that day and we were leaving the Trail Canyon trail-head driving toward the accident site and saw the "explosion". We do not believe anyone suffered considering the condidtion of the site and the trees into which they crashed.


    Steve Hoagland wrote on June 29, 2008 09:10 PM: At this time of great loss our prayers and thoughts must be with the children left from this tragic accident and those family members who remain to help these children. I did not know Craig Wilson and his wife, Michele but know that Erik and Tanya had a support system around them so I pray the Wilson’s did as well. Forget elections this is about lives of young people who will never again get to say "Good Night Mom & Dad". To the parents and siblings of all four that are gone, my prayer is that God will grant you the grace and peace to get through this trying time. It was an honor to know Erik and Tanya as I am sure it was to know Craig and Michele. Forget harsh words spoken, bad thoughts held, negative images as those things pass but when life is over you cannot undo or take back anything. Call someone you owe a call to, visit someone who needs a smile. Remember the Nunn and Wilson children in your thoughts and prayers.
    Steve Hoagland


    Tonya Clifford wrote on June 29, 2008 07:35 PM: I think that it is very sad that the plane crashed there. At least we're lucky that there were only four people in that plane instead of more. I hope that nobody else gets hurt.


    douglas wrote on June 29, 2008 07:01 PM: echo view subdivision residents were permitted back into their homes at 6:00pm, most of an hour ago. echo is open to residents and officials only. federal officials are still on site as are 2 firefighting crews. echo road west of spruce and crestview west of kris kringle are barricaded.

    consensus so far is that the plane entered the box canyon too low and with the passenger and full fuel load, couldn't gain altitude at this elevation [a bit over 7000'] to clear the ridges. nor could it turn around due to the narrowness of the canyon at this end.

    from my neighbor observers, kinda looks like the pilot did his best to avoid a couple of homes, missing at least 2 by scant feet.


    Stella wrote on June 29, 2008 06:46 PM: I used to date the pilot and he was so wild. I can only thank David for his comment even thought I have never met him?


    Stacy and Rob wrote on June 29, 2008 04:58 PM: My wife babysat two of the three kids you all are discussing. David, our heart goes out to you all. We moved just before the baby was born. Just know that though short, those lives made a difference in our lives and many others. Special people with truly amazing lives and beautiful children. The loss will be felt by many for a long time. Having not seen the family for over three years now, we are still crestfallen by the sudden way in which they were called home. But rest assured that home is where they are now.


    Nancy wrote on June 29, 2008 03:52 PM: My heart goes out to the loves ones left here to grieve. I pray that won't last and will give way to good memories. I send my love every time my husband goes to work, or my grown children leave after seeing me. I still say to be careful, even though everyone is old enough to know that they should. I hope that the children will be loved just as they would have from their parents. It will be difficult, I'm sure, but families are strong when a crisis occurs. God Bless!


    P.Fanney wrote on June 29, 2008 03:33 PM: i am so sorry this happened to your family,i will pray for you all.GOD BLESS


    Jo Ann Dowing wrote on June 29, 2008 02:18 PM: My heart is sad and broken for the loss of these wonderful people. I have known 2 of them all their life. They were beautiful Christian people. My prayers are with the family, as one of them was my cousin. I know that God will give the family peace and healing.
    I just pray that the peace of God will pass all understanding.
    My Love to you,
    Jo Ann D.


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