Jerome couple dies in airplane crash

Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2000 | 8:55 a.m.

Elko County Sheriff's Deputy Brad Hester said the couple's single-engine Mooney slammed into a hayfield about one-half mile east of the airport early Monday.

John Raymond Appel, 64, and his passenger Victoria Appel, 58, of Jerome, were killed on impact. There was no fire.

Relatives told Hester that John Appel was an experienced pilot.

Howard Plagens, an inspector from the National Transportation Safety Board's Los Angeles office, arrived at the crash scene Monday afternoon. Plagens said it will take several days to determine the exact cause of the crash.

In 11 years with sheriff's department, Hester said he has responded to about a dozen similar crashes out of the Jackpot airport.

He said the crash was probably due to the combination of darkness, disorientation and a rise in the land.

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