Both In Critical Condition; Plane Impacted Tree Near Airport

Two flight students from the University of Dubuque remain in critical condition, following the Wednesday afternoon downing of their Socata TB-20 Trinidad near Cassville, WI.

KCRG-9 in Cedar Rapids, IA reports Cory Alsip and Grant Vogt of Dubuque were transported to an area hospital with severe burns, after their plane (similar to type shown below) impacted a tree and several buildings near Cassville Municipal Airport (94K) just before 4:00 pm, and caught fire. The fire quickly spread to two cabins at Eagle's Roost Resort, destroying one and damaging the second.

The students, both Juniors at the university, were later airlifted to University Hospitals in Madison.

"While it is not possible to say with certainty what exactly happened, it appears from eye witness accounts that one of the University's Trinidad aircraft may have experienced a catastrophic incident as the aircraft was making a landing approach at the Cassville airport," read a statement from the university president's office, reports WKOW-27.

"The aviators were able to bring the aircraft down on a road, the plane continued across a parking lot, and ended passing between two cabins. A fire erupted, and the men were able to exit the aircraft before it was totally engulfed in flames."

The school held a student prayer service Thursday for the fallen aviators, and Aero-News joins in wishing them a speedy recovery.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 597TB        Make/Model: TB20      Description: SOCATA TB-20 TRINIDAD
  Date: 09/03/2008     Time: 2053

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Serious     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: CASSVILLE                   State: WI   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED AND BURNED INTO RESORT CABINS NEAR THE AIRPORT, CASSVILLE,
  WI

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   2     Fat:   0     Ser:   2     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: VFR

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: MILWAUKEE, WI  (GL13)                 Entry date: 09/04/2008

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.dbq.edu/