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Both occupants of one of the planes involved in the midair collision last week north of Phoenix were flight instructors.
Paul Brownell and Basil Onuferko, both employees of TransPac Aviation Academy, were killed in Friday’s crash, as were two occupants of another small plane, whose names haven’t been released.
See also:
Planes Collide in Midair Outside of Phoenix, Four People Killed
There were no survivors, and the collision was seen by another pilot, as well as a guy riding his bike, who both called authorities to the crash site near New River, in the north Valley.
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A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman told New Times the collision occurred around 10 a.m., about 15 miles west-northwest of the Deer Valley Airport.
Tthe National Transportation Safety Board, which will lead the accident investigation, typically doesn’t determine the probable cause of accidents for several months. Even a preliminary report takes a week or two.
A statement from the CEO of TransPac, Stephen Goddard, says the company “cannot comment on possible causes of the accident while the investigation is ongoing.”
TransPac also set up a couple memorial funds for their employees, including the Paul Brownell Family Fund to help out his wife and children, as well as the Basil Onuferko Memorial Scholarship Fund to provide tuition assistance to those who want to go to TransPac’s training program.
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Follow Matthew Hendley on Twitter at @MatthewHendley.
