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(First posted at 6:53 p.m.) A Piper cub single-engine plane crashed into some power lines in Echo Canyon near Mount Charleston about 3 p.m. today, killing four people on board and sparking a 10-acre wildfire that is spreading and threatening homes in the area, the Bureau of Land Management said.
By 7 p.m., the flames from the Echo Canyon fire threaten 38 structures, including cabin homes, and has closed State Route 157 leading to Mount Charleston. At this time residents are under voluntary evacuation due to erratic fire behavior and smoke, said Kirsten Cannon of the Bureau of Land Management. No structures have been lost to flames.
The fire was burning on U.S. Forest Service land.
Hikers have been evacuated from the area as well as some homeowners in Echo Canyon and upper Kyle Canyon, Cannon said.
In addition to a helicopter and an air attack platform, several engines from Clark County, the state and other federal agencies put about 100 people, including a hand crew, battled the flames, Cannon said.
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate why the single-engine plane, which took off from North Las Vegas Airport about 2:30 p.m. for Byron, Calif., about 500 miles away, crashed, an FAA spokesman said.
My brother and his wife were aboard that plane! His friend was the pilot!
They left Thursday for vacation. I was babysitting thier three kids for the first day! They were on thier way home!
This was not a 2-passenger "Piper Cub." It was a 4 or 6 passenger Piper Cherokee.
thats correct nvpatentlawyer!! my brother was telling about how nice the plane was.
it happened to be thier 10th aniversary !
One of the young men and his wife were very dear friends of ours and we are devastated at the loss of this beautiful family. Our prayers are extended to the parents and families of both victims. The woman was my cousin. I am so saddened with the news. May God be with you all.
jdowing
I am an avid pilot. Does anyone know who owned the plane that crashed?
Two of the victims were very good friends and neighbors of ours. Our hearts are broken for the loss to this family. They leave behind three beautiful children, and many family and friends that will miss them dearly.
We are saddened by the loss of this family a extened our sympathies to the relatives that lost their family members. We will remember them in our prayers and thoughts. Our condolences also go to the L.E. community to which they belong for the loss of a fellow LEO. Michael Mac 137