Funeral Arrangements Pending For Jerry Smith

Details are sketchy about the downing of a Cessna 177RG Cardinal Tuesday near Mena, AR... but the identity of the lone person onboard has been confirmed.

Representatives with Garmin say Jerry L. Smith was flying his personal plane (similar to graphic shown below) when it crashed for still undetermined reasons some time before 2 pm Tuesday near Queen Wilhelmina State Park.

Smith was Garmin's Aviation Regional Sales Manager for the South Central United States. The avionics maker says he was flying on a business trip.

Local officials say police received a call about a possible plane crash from a local resident who heard an explosion. Authorities found the wreckage soon after, stating it appeared the plane caught fire on impact.

"Jerry joined Garmin in 1994 as a Regional Sales Manager and had the distinction of being one of the first aviation sales managers hired by Garmin," the company said in a release to ANN. "He was a vital member of Garmin’s aviation sales team, as well as a commercial pilot with instrument, multi-engine and instructor (CFII and MEI) ratings with over 20,000 hours. Jerry was involved with the aviation industry for over four decades and held positions at BF Goodrich Aerospace, where he did research flying for Stormscope and TCAS, King Radio, and others.

"Beyond his professional contributions, even more sorely missed will be his zest for life and sense of humor, which everyone will remember. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jerry's family, friends, coworkers and customers as their lives have been changed forever by this tragic event."

Funeral arrangements are pending. The FAA and NTSB are on scene.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 2526V        Make/Model: C177      Description: 177, Cardinal
  Date: 11/11/2008     Time: 1446

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

LOCATION
  City: MENA   State: AR   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ONE PERSON ON BOARD WAS
  FATALLY INJURED, 5 MILES FROM RICH MOUNTAIN, MENA, AR

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: KNWT 112153Z AUTO 11003KT 10SM OVC006 13/12 A2994

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: LITTLE ROCK, AR  (SW11)               Entry date: 11/12/2008

FMI: www.garmin.com, www.faa.gov