Saturday turned into a heartbreaking day for the aviation community as five people lost their lives in two separate aircraft accidents in Ohio and Kentucky.
Three Ohio residents were killed when a Piper Comanche 250 crashed into a field near Bridge Road in Middlefield, Geauga County, at approximately 3:30 p.m.
The victims were identified as:
• Thomas Cunningham, 76, of Rome, Ohio
• John Taipale, 71, of Geneva, Ohio
• Alexander Taipale, 40, of Geneva, Ohio
Authorities said the aircraft was approaching Geauga County Airport and went down about a mile short of the runway. No one on the ground was injured. The FAA and NTSB have been notified and are investigating the cause of the crash.
Earlier in the day, a small aircraft crashed in a farm field near Nicholasville, Kentucky, killing two people on board.
Emergency crews responded around 8:46 a.m. after multiple 911 calls reported the aircraft down near KY 169. The aircraft was later identified by investigators as a six-seat CA6-WB. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Five people lost. Two crashes. One tragic day.
