One man killed, another injured in crash of small plane at Lake Mead

A 51-year-old Louisiana man was killed Tuesday in the crash of a small plane at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area near the Colorado River.

The Clark County Coroner's office today identified the victim as Errol Broussard of Lafayette, La.

A man injured in the crash -- identified as Charlie Stone, a contract pilot recommended by Barron Thomas Aviation Inc. of Scottsdale to familiarize Broussard with a plane he had just purchased-- remains in critical condition today at University Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The aviation company sold the plane, which was listed on its Internet website for $49,000. A company spokeswoman confirmed Stone, in his mid-20s, was injured in the crash.

She referred all other inquiries to Barron Thomas, who was in Las Vegas today.

Reached at the UMC waiting room, Thomas declined to discuss the crash, noting that it was under investigation by the FAA. He confirmed, however, that Broussard had bought the plane Tuesday morning.

"All I can say now is that our prayers are with Charlie and the Broussard family," Thomas said.

The plane, a 1968 model Cessna 177A Cardinal, was making a turn over the Eldorado Wash in the Nelson's Landing area, about 55 miles southeast of Las Vegas, when it crashed into the south wall of the wash, National Park Service Ranger Paul Crawford said.

"A witness was down at the river, and he reported seeing the plane flying west up the wash and then attempting to make a turn and fly back east toward the river," Crawford said. "He saw it crash at about 3:10 p.m. and drove up to see if he could help the two men inside the plane."

Broussard was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The plane has dual control, so at this point we don't which man was doing the flying," Crawford said.

The plane took off from the Boulder City Airport Tuesday afternoon, but an exact time of takeoff is not known because there is no air traffic control at the small airport and flight plans are not required.

The front end of the single propellor plane was crushed on impact and the tail bent as it came to rest about halfway up the 75-foot dirt embankment that runs along the south side of the wash. The plane crashed about a mile from the Colorado River.

"The plane was making a turn when it went down," FAA Investigator Richard Jones said. "We know that there was fuel in the tank and that the pilot had power. It looks like he didn't stall, and from the angle and where the plane landed it appears the plane just flew right into the wall."

Art Gallenson, the owner of a charter flight service that uses the Boulder City Airport as a home base, said the type of flight Broussard and Stone were making was typical.

"It's not unusual for someone to buy a plane here and then fly with an instructor and get tested out on the new plane on the way back to wherever they're from," Gallenson said.

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