Two Fatally Injured When Bellanca 17-30A Impacted Terrain About 75 Yards From The Runway

Two men, neither of whom was a licensed pilot, were fatally injured last week when the Bellanca 17-30A Viking they had taken from Henderson City-County Airport (KEHR) impacted terrain about 75 yards from the runway where they had taken off.

The two were identified as Barry A. Hill, 47, and George Tucker, 48, bot from Sanford, North Carolina. Kentucky State Police said they did not have permission to take the airplane.

NBC News reports that one of the men knows the airplane's owner, and at least one had taken some flight instruction, according to the KSP.

The incident reportedly occurred after the airport closed for the day at 11:00 p.m. Tuesday. Kentucky State Police Trooper Corey King told NBC News on Thursday said it was not immediately clear which of the men knew the Bellanca's owner, and which was actually flying the plane when it went down. "Right now there are more questions than we have answers," King said.

(Image from file. Not accident airplane)

FMI: Source report