Witnesses Say Twin Spiraled Into Yard

A twin-engine Cessna 340 crashed Saturday afternoon while preparing to land at Erie-Ottawa Regional Airport near Port Clinton, claiming the lives of four north-central Ohio residents.

Pilot David Eckstein, 67, his wife Janet Hanna, 66, and their friends John McCarter, 68, and his wife, Karen Saprano, 62, were killed in the accident just before 1:00 pm, reports the Mansfield News Journal.

Erie-Ottawa Regional Airport Manager Jack Stables said the plane radioed its intention to land at the airport when it was about 10 miles out. Stables said he saw the plane fly past, heading east.

“Everything seemed normal and I could hear both engines working fine,” he said. After the plane made a second radio call, Stables said nothing else was heard.

No distress calls were made.

According to The Toledo Blade, an FAA official was driving on a nearby road and watched the airplane apparently attempting to make a turn, then spiraling to the ground. This description matches that of another watching driver, Greg Dziak, who said he watched in disbelief as the airplane "twirled down into the ground."

The plane (file photo of type, right) was in landing configuration, with landing gear and flaps down. The aircraft impacted the backyard of Chester Alexander’s home, rattling windows and waking Mr. Alexander from a nap. His wife told him something had hit the ground behind the pond.

The airplane’s nose was partially submerged in the soft, wet ground, and it was readily apparent there were no survivors.

Eckstein is described as a veteran pilot who often donated his aviation services to charities. Mark Daugherty, Operations Supervisor of Mansfield Lahm Municipal Airport, had known Eckstein for about a decade and said he was very highly respected.

"Dave was a good man. He was very active around our airport. We’re going to miss him," Daugherty said. "I’ve been up flying with Dave several times. I’d fly with him any day of the week."

A successful businessman, Eckstein had owned several airplanes, the 340 being the most recent. He flew friends McCarter and Saprano to be married in the air in 2006.

The Young Eagles Program was a special passion for Eckstein and according to the Young Eagles website, he had flown 358 youngsters to introduce them to the joys of flight. "Dave has always been affiliated with the program. It’s just his love of aviation," said Daugherty.

FMI: www.faa.gov; www.youngeagles.org