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Title: Pilot uninjured in crash

TRACY DASH THE SUN HERALD March 22, 2000

OCEAN SPRINGS - A pilot taking off from the Ocean Springs Airport escaped injury Tuesday afternoon after his rented single-engine plane crashed on Fountainebleau Road.

The Cherokee 140 plane crashed about 4:15 p.m. when it began to loose power shortly after take off, according to Lt. Ray Bates of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department.

The pilot, whose name was not released, turned the plane around and attempted to land at the airport. As he approached the runway, the plane lost power and fell to the ground. But before coming to a stop, the plane bounced off the runway and became airborne long enough for it to strike two pine trees and a power pole.

The plane crashed about 50 feet from the runway and caught fire. The pilot, Bates said, managed to free himself from the aircraft before the fire engulfed the plane.

Bates said the pilot is lucky to be alive.

"It just wasn't his time to go," he said.

Investigators with the Federal Aviation Association are expected to arrive sometime today to inspect the wreckage, which remained at the crash site overnight.

The pilot, who is believed to be from Long Beach, left the airport immediately after he was questioned by deputies.

Authorities plan to close at least one lane of Fountainebleau Road to traffic this morning until the wreckage is moved to another location for further inspection.

Tracy Dash can be reached at 872-1660 or at tadash@sunherald.com

http://www.sunherald.com/region/docs/crash032200.htm

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), March 22, 2000