Landing Cessna 172 Collided With Another On Runway

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the collision of two Cessna 172s at McCall Municipal Airport (MYL) in central Idaho Friday night.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor told KTVB-7 at approximately 1900 MDT, the landing Cessna with two people aboard struck another Cessna, with four people aboard, that had reportedly taken the runway. Both aircraft exploded upon impact.

Pilot Bill Keating, 52, and two of his grandsons, ages one and six died at the scene. All three were aboard the aircraft on the ground.

Another grandson, age two, was flown to the University of Utah Burn Center with third-degree burns where he is listed in critical condition. The pilot of the other aircraft, Justin Mooney, 30 and passenger Mark Fuller, 27 saved the two-year-old from the burning plane. Both were treated and released from McCall Memorial Hospital, according to USA Today.

"We are still trying to figure out the circumstances behind the crash," said Gregor Saturday to the Idaho Press-Tribune. "We know that Mr. Mooney's aircraft took off from Felts Field in Spokane headed for McCall Municipal Airport. Upon landing it collided with a second Cessna 172, and the two planes exploded on impact."

According to KTVB, Keating left the airport at Caldwell, ID with his three grandchildren an hour prior to the collision at McCall.

NTSB investigator Dennis Hogenson arrived mid-Saturday to begin investigation in the cause of the accident. "Our job is putting the pieces together," Hogenson said. "We've been told a number of things. We have witnesses and we have a pilot who has been very forthcoming and helpful. "We need to figure out what came first ... were they airborne, side-by-side? We just don't know yet."

"This is a tragedy in a very small community," Hogenson further said. "We obviously have some devastated relatives, and Sunday two colleagues who work in our transportation disaster assistance program will work with me to make sure families and the community have everything they need. A lot of people in this valley knew the pilot, and we have small children involved."

FMI: www.ntsb.gov