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Posted for Ted Stanley <direct@vineyard.net>:
Thought I'd pass this along. - Ted Stanley
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/osceola/orl-occrash-07132001.stor
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FAA investigates fatal plane crash
Susan Jacobson
Sentinel Staff Writer
July 13, 2001
KISSIMMEE -- As friends and family prepare for the memorial service of a
missionary killed in a small-plane crash, federal investigators Thursday
were trying to determine what caused the aircraft to fall out of the sky.
The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating possible causes,
including maintenance deficiencies, whether the airplane had an adequate
supply of fuel, the condition of the engine and pilot error.
"We're not ruling anything out," said Ben Coleman, an FAA
accident-investigation coordinator.
Robert Helmer, 52, founder of Missionair Inc. of Kissimmee, died in the
crash. His Lancair IV plunged to earth shortly after takeoff from the
Kissimmee Airport about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The plane crashed in a neighborhood of mostly mobile homes. The plane,
which Missionair members said was worth about $350,000, crashed into a back
yard. The air-traffic control tower did not receive any distress calls,
authorities said. There was no flight-data recorder, so investigators will
have to rely on evidence from the burned plane wreckage and the autopsy
results for clues.
"It was a pretty intense crash," Coleman said. "It went straight down."
The airplane is "high performance," he said, meaning a pilot could easily
lose control if it flew too slowly. The turbocharged, single-engine plane
could travel at more than 300 mph, authorities said.
"It flies high and fast," said Ladde Mayer, 62, a retired aeronautical and
electronics engineer and Missionair member who has flown the plane. "It's
an excellently designed aircraft."
Missionair members said it is too soon to know what would become of the
group. Helmer, a retired optometrist, was the president of the
organization.
John Moeller, 39, of Charleston, S.C., flew with Helmer many times in the
Lancair on the way to and from Missionair headquarters. Helmer, known as
"Doc" to many, would have wanted the organization to continue ferrying
church members nationwide to remote locations to preach the Gospel, he
said.
"We have several strong leaders in the group that may be able to step
forward and take over," Moeller said. "My main desire is that somebody step
forward, that the vision doesn't die."
For now, friends and family are grieving at the Missionair compound at
Helmer's home. They gathered to support Helmer's wife, Sandy, and their
three children. Five adult children and two grandsons survive him . Mission
work and his family were the only important things in his life, Moeller
said.
A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at Heartland Community
Church, 2874 E. U.S. Highway 192 near Kissimmee.
"He was always bringing joy to people around him whether that was in his
organization or throughout the world through his efforts," said Andrae
Bailey, adminstrative pastor at Heartland.
Bailey said Helmer "lived in his life what he preached."
"The family just needs to get through this," said Dr. Michael Link, a
Missionair board member. "Everybody's just aiming toward Sunday. We get
through the service Sunday, and I guess Monday will be the
starting-to-rebuild day."
Susan Jacobson can be reached at sjacobson@orlandosentinel.com or
407-931-5946.
Copyright © 2001, Orlando Sentinel
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