Witnesses Say There Was "No Indication" Anything Was Wrong With The Airplane

An 84-year-old pilot was fatally injured Saturday morning when the Sonex he was flying went down shortly after takeoff for reasons that are not yet clear.

File Photo

The pilot, Ed Noble, had flown for Epps Aviation following a stint in the Navy. The Rome, GA, News-Tribune reports that Noble lived in DeKalb County is suburban Atlanta, GA, but kept the airplane at Tom B. David airport (KCZL) in Calhoun, GA northwest of Atlanta. There is reportedly an established homebuilt and experimental community at the field with more than half the aircraft based there falling into that category.

Witnesses said the airplane was at an altitude of about 800-1000 feet when it went down. Noble reportedly did not make any mayday call, or indicate there was any problem with the airplane, according to the Times Free Press of Chattanooga, TN. Another witness said he heard a sound "like a big aerosol can going off in a fire," according to the News-Tribune.

Noble was said to be well liked and respected at the airport, and stayed active, playing tennis as many as four days a week.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ntsb.gov