
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 23, 1993                   TAG: 9307230026
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WADESVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

WITNESSES: PILOT DID STUNTS BEFORE CRASH

A preliminary investigation indicated the pilot of a small vintage plane performed aerobatic maneuvers before he fatally crashed in Clarke County, a federal official said Thursday.

Brian D. Fuerstenau, 50, of Clear Brook, and Grover J. Gallagher, 46, of Winchester, were killed Tuesday when the plane, a 1949 North American T-6G, went down in a wooded area about eight miles outside Winchester.

One witness "reported that the aircraft climbed up to about 500 feet and began a dive to the ground," said Jeff Guzzetti, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board. Other witnesses reported seeing the plane performing such maneuvers as flying sideways and performing loops. - Associated Press

Keywords:
FATALITY

by CNB