Impact With Plane's Wing Sent SUV Into Tree

Two people were killed Sunday when their small sport-utility vehicle was struck by a Piper PA-18 Super Cub as it attempted to take off from a private airfield in the Florida panhandle.

The Tallahassee Democrat reports Dennis Boyle and Carmen Langston, both 56, were riding in the vehicle alongside the Cub, flown by Carmen's husband Paul "Mac" Langston, 54. The aircraft's left wing hit the SUV, sending it into a tree; the plane did not take off, and neither Mac Langston nor his passenger, 27 year-old Marissa Walton, were injured.

The accident occurred at 3 pm EST Sunday on the Ayavalla Plantation, known in the region for hosting a number of wildlife conservation events. The 20,000 acre plantation sports a small, grass airstrip and hangar.

Investigators are determining why the Jeep was so close to the aircraft. Walton is the girlfriend of the Langston's son, Cody, who was also at the airfield... as was Boyle's wife, Robin.

Those who knew the victims said the Boyle and Langston families are very close, and often socialize together at the plantation. Both victims in the Jeep were actively involved in local philanthropic causes.

"Tallahassee lost two very fine people and parents (Sunday)," said Mark O’Bryant, president and CEO of Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare. "This is a very sad day for all of us."

Though likely not causal to the accident, the fact the airstrip at Ayavalla is not registered with the Department of Transportation has attracted some interest in local media reports. Florida state aviation manager Bill Ashbaker notes while the airstrip is technically out of compliance with state law, there is no fine or penalty for not being registered.

"(The regulation) is really in place to make sure that if a person wants to do these activities, it is in compliance with the local zoning," Ashbaker said. "If a person wants to operate their vehicle on their private property we don't get involved."

A preliminary report from the NTSB is expected by early next week.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 2424A        Make/Model: PA18      Description: PA-18 Super Cub (L-18C, L-21, U-7)
  Date: 02/01/2009     Time: 2045

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: None     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: TALLAHASSEE   State: FL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF, A JEEP DROVE UP TO THE AIRCRAFT AND THE WING OF THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE JEEP. THE JEEP CRASHED INTO A TREE FATALLY INJURING BOTH OCCUPANTS. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT TAKE OFF

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

WEATHER: 1953Z 15009 10 SM FEW 043 BKN 070 14/07 3017

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Take-off      Operation: OTHER

FAA FSDO: ORLANDO, FL  (SO15)                   Entry date: 02/02/2009

FMI: www.faa.gov