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

DATE: SATURDAY, March 19, 1994                   TAG: 9403190107
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WINCHESTER                                LENGTH: Short

NORTH'S PILOT KILLED IN CRASH

Oliver North's pilot died when his plane crashed early Friday en route to a campaign appearance for North's Senate bid, authorities said. No one else was on board.

Bobby R. Venable's small plane apparently had engine trouble and crash-landed about a quarter-mile from the airport in Winchester.

The twin-engine Swearingen Merlin IIIA went down about 12:50 a.m., said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Bob Fulton.

Venable, 39, of Front Royal, flew with North to Washington Dulles Airport on Thursday night, after campaign appearances in Southside Virginia for North's campaign to win the Republican U.S. Senate nomination.

North got off the plane to drive to his Clarke County home. Venable flew the plane on to Winchester, where North had a morning appearance, a North spokesman said.

They planned to fly the plane to Richmond later Friday.

- Associated Press

Keywords:
FATALITY

by CNB