April 5, 2009
Local pilot dies after plane crashes into home Local businessman Harley McGatha's small plane crashed into the home of Brian and Keila Burleson Saturday around 1 p.m. McGatha was trying to take off from the Centre Municipal Airport when eyewitnesses said the plane lifted off, then began to wiggle in mid-air before pitching violently to the left and veering into Northwood Estates.  The plane burst into flames after diving through a thicket of pine trees and skidding across the ground. Ricky Wright, who witnessed the crash, pulled McGatha out of the burning wreckage. Witnesses said McGatha was still conscious but badly burned.  Fire departments and emergency medical personnel from across Cherokee County responded to the crash. McGatha was treated at the scene before being airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham.  The remnants of McGatha's two-seater plane were removed from the crash site Sunday morning and stored in a hangar at the local airport while the Federal Aviation Administration investigates the cause of the crash.  McGatha was piloting an Aeronca Champion, similar to the one pictured above. The two-seater, first manufactured in 1945, is constructed of welded metal tubing. The outer shape of the fuselage is created by a combination of wooden formers and longerons, covered with fabric. From Wikipedia.com
CENTRE — Local businessman Harley McGatha died Sunday, a day after his small
plane crashed into a house in Northwood Estates while taking off from the A witness who saw the plane crash into the home of
Brian and Keila Burleson, on “That must have been the plane hitting the limb of one of those tall pine trees over there,” said Mack Arnold, who lives a few houses down from the Burlesons. “I looked and saw the bottom of the plane. It came between the trees sideways, and then nosed down onto the house.” “But before I got across the driveway, it exploded,” Other witnesses told The Post the small plane appeared to struggle for altitude upon liftoff, then began to wiggle before losing control and pitching hard to the left. “He came through the pine trees on his side,” said one witness who requested anonymity. “Then the left wing caught on the ground and fire started pouring out.” The witness ran inside her home to try and call 911, not realizing the plane had severed phone lines as it came down. She said she heard an explosion a few seconds later. McGatha survived the crash and was pulled from the burning wreckage by Ricky Wright, who also witnessed the crash. “I just reacted,” Wright said. “I pulled him out by his shirt and dragged him into a puddle of water. He was on fire.” McGatha was airlifted to The plane was moved from the crash site Sunday morning. Ware said the Federal Aviation Administration hoped to release the crash site after a final walkthrough Sunday afternoon. Ware said the wreckage was moved to a hangar at the |