My SIL's mother and stepfather died in a plane crash!

[shopgirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shopgirl]

They own the Bridal Mart chain of stores in the San Francisco area. My poor SIL is going to have to deal with the loss of her mom and take more responsibility for the business. I am so sad for my SIL and her sister and husband. What a sad, sad day this is for their family. Jeanette was such a remarkable, strong woman. I wonder if they have her husband's age correct, as he looked older than Jeanette to me.

There is probably a better story about this in the Sacramento/ El Dorado Hills/ San Francisco newspapers. I couldn't find anything more in my initial search. Rick's brother called me this morning and knew it happened close to Louisville, KY. He and his wife are separated right now, maybe just temporarily, and he had lots of calls to make on her behalf.

I am so sad. The hospitality of these people was unmatched, when we visited them a few years ago in their beautiful home on acres and acres of land in El Dorado Hills. My SIL always referred to them as The Beverly Hillbillies of northern CA. Jeanette was very old fashioned and did everything for herself. They will be missed.
__________________

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

So sorry to hear about your and your SIL loss (Mother and Stepfather)

Here is an article in the Louisville online paper.

2nd person dies after plane crash in Bullitt
Pilot, wife were from California

By Brandy Warren
bwarren@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



The wife of a pilot who was killed in a Sunday afternoon plane crash in northern Bullitt County died early yesterday from injuries she suffered in the accident.

Jeanette Watts, 77, died at University Hospital at about 4 a.m., said Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Jack Arnold. Her husband, Leonard Duane Watts, 57, was killed when the single-engine plane he was flying crashed about 4 p.m. Sunday in a cornfield off Brooks Hill Road, about half a mile from Knob Creek Road.



Jeanette Watts was in the plane's front passenger seat, Bullitt County Coroner Tommy Kappel said.

The couple lived in El Dorado Hills, Calif., and owned a Bridal Mart in Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Two others aboard the plane were injured but survived.

The pilot's sister, Wanda Fay Lupton, 66, was transported to University Hospital on Sunday afternoon, Kappel said. An employee in patient relations at University Hospital declined to give her condition.

The other passenger, 10-year-old Shelby Cummings, was in fair condition yesterday at Kosair Children's Hospital, according to a statement from the hospital.

Kappel said she is Lupton's granddaughter.

Lupton and the girl were riding in the back of the plane, Kappel said.

Meanwhile, an investigation is continuing to determine what caused the crash.

Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said staff were dispatched to the scene and are investigating.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is also investigating the crash, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Bergen said the aircraft was a Mooney 20. She said there were no distress calls from the plane before the crash. The pilot did not register a flight plan, which is not unusual for small aircraft flying below 18,000 feet, Bergen said.

The plane was thought to be headed from southern Illinois to Blue Lick Airport in Bullitt County, authorities said.

Reporter Brandy Warren can be reached at (502) 582-4608. The Associated Press contributed to this story.




Pilot dies in Bullitt plane crash
Accident also leaves three passengers injured

By Chris Otts
cotts@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



One person was killed and three others were injured when a small plane crashed yesterday afternoon in northwestern Bullitt County, authorities said.

The pilot, who was 55, died when the single-engine plane crashed in a cornfield off Brooks Hill Road, about half a mile from Knob Creek Road, said Chief Rob Orkies of the Zoneton Fire Protection District and Chief Deputy Danny Thompson of the Bullitt County Sheriff's Department.



The pilot's wife, who is 75, and a second woman were flown to University Hospital in critical condition, said Thompson and Mike Riordan, spokesman for Bullitt County Emergency Management.

A girl, thought to be about 12, was taken to Kosair Children's Hospital with injuries that did not seem life-threatening, Riordan said.

Authorities did not identify any of the victims. It wasn't known what the relationship was between the pilot and his wife and the two other passengers.

The cause of the crash at about 4 p.m. was unclear. The plane was thought to be headed from southern Illinois to Blue Lick Airport in Bullitt County, Orkies said.

There were no distress calls from the plane before the crash, said Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration.

The pilot did not register a flight plan, which is not unusual for small aircraft flying below 18,000 feet, she said.

The plane was registered to an owner in Lincoln, Calif., according to the FAA's Web site.

There was no fire when Zoneton firefighters responded shortly after 4 p.m., and the plane was intact after the crash except for a few pieces of debris, Orkies said.

"It appears that maybe it came down in a direct line, and maybe when it hit, that it bent one wing," he said.

Thomas Jean, the owner of Blue Lick Airport, who said he was a member of an emergency response team that was at the scene, said the airplane had "plenty of gas and the engine was running."

Officials were lucky that a nearby property owner saw the crash and helped firefighters locate the plane in the cornfield, Orkies said.

"Because there was no fire, and it was a small plane, it was difficult for us to find originally, but we did it in just a matter of a few minutes," he said.

The aircraft was a Mooney 20 with a single engine, Bergen said. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation with help from the FAA, she said.

Bergen said FAA officials were to be on the scene last night. NTSB officials were expected to arrive today.

Reporter Chris Otts can be reached at (502) 582-4589.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Oh that is HORRIBLE!

I'm so sorry for you and your family.

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

So very sorry to hear of your familys loss. We will be thinking of you.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

How awful !!!

I feel for you, your SIL, and her family. You are all in my thoughts.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

What a terrible tragedy! I am so sorry for your loss.

[Guest Close Quarterbore]

That is terrible news... My thoughts and prayers are with them.

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

What a tragedy! My condolences for you and your families.

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

Sorry for their loss.

Jya-Ning

[susieq Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close susieq]

Such awful news ....... My thoughts and prayers are with you all. So sorry for your loss.......

Sue

[billymach4 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close billymach4]

Please accept my condolences. My prayers are with you and your family.

[Faust Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Faust]

I am sorry for your loss and my prayers are with you and your family.

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

How awful. I am sorry for your troubles.

[SOS8260456 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close SOS8260456]

How terrible! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Lisa

[Gracey Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gracey]

How awful for you and your SIL family, I can't imagine what they are going through, praying for strenth for all of you.

Laurie