Updated: Nov 06, 2006 - 08:01:17 pm CST
New: Charles Laing of
Sycamore dies in Georgia plane crash | Comments (2)
By Carrie Hargett - Chattanooga Times Free-Press
DALTON, Ga. - An Illinois man flying a small,
kit-built aircraft to Florida crashed and was killed here Monday
shortly after he radioed the Dalton airport tower to say he was having engine trouble.
Killed was Charles Laing of Sycamore, whose
Laing Management Co. owned apartment complexes throughout DeKalb and Sycamore,
according to authorities there. Kevin Day, supervisor of the Whitfield County
911 Center, said the pilot reported a mechanical problem at 12:30 p.m. and was directed to land at the Dalton Municipal Airport.
“A lot of people will be crying in DeKalb County tonight,” said Jim Mason, owner of
Mason Properties, and a fellow apartment complex owner.
Laing owned complexes around DeKalb and
Sycamore.
“He was a friend to all the kids in
his neighborhood. He was Santa Claus at Christmas, he kept the swimming pool
warmed up so they could use it,” Mason said.
“His projects were always well
done,” the mayor said. “He built affordable housing for people, but
he didn't cut corners.”
Harvey Halman, manager of the Dalton Municipal Airport, said the Chattanooga Air Traffic Control notified the Dalton airport tower of the emergency.
“He was coming down pretty
fast,” Mr. Halman said. “It was pretty clear he wasn't going to
make it (to the airport).”
Mr. Laing was about six miles away from
the Dalton airport when he radioed, Mr. Halman said.
“His engine had quit and he didn't
have enough to make it the last four miles,” Mr. Halman said. “He
didn't have any power and he didn't have any options. It was going to go where
it was going to go.”
Mr. Halman said when the pilot first radioed,
the plane was flying at 4,000 feet. At 4.4 miles out it had fallen to 2,400
feet and crashed shortly after into the median of State Highway 52 east of Dalton, near the intersection of State Highway 286.
Katie Brooker, who lives close to the
crash site, said she was in her home when she heard a “loud boom.”
She said she didn't realize it was a plane crash until she heard sirens and
went outside to see what had occurred.
“When I came out here, they had it
all blocked off,” she said. The plane did not explode, but it spilled
fuel onto the highway and scattered debris.
Whitfield County Fire Chief Carl Collins
said emergency personnel secured the area, but would not start a cleanup until
federal investigators arrived. The westbound lanes of Highway 52 were closed
Monday afternoon until investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration
and the National Transportation Safety Board arrived.
Mr. Halman said it is unclear if the pilot
intentionally landed in the median to avoid traffic.
The turbine-powered Lancair had been enroute
from DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport in DeKalb, Ill., to Hernando County Airport in Brooksville,
Fla., aviation officials said.
The plane was registered to Scott Carlson
of Sycamore, Ill. Mr. Halman said the pilot was a relative of Mr. Carlson.
Mr. Halman said when the pilot didn't
arrive in Brooksville, Fla, his family called the Dalton airport to check on the status of the airplane.
According to Mr. Halman, the Lancair was
“home-built” from a kit. He described the plane as “real
fast,” with an engine that is large in comparison with its small cockpit.
Weather did not appear to be a factor, he said.
FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said
investigation will be handled by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Staff Writer Lauren Gregory contributed to
this report.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lancair Mailing List
[mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Farnsworth
Sent: Tuesday,
November 07, 2006 7:13 AM
To: Lancair Mailing List
Subject: [LML] Lancair down in Georgia
Near Dalton, GA yesterday (6 Nov)
afternoon. Charlie Laing the pilot. Looks like a IV or maybe an ES.
Anyone have any information?