|
A Provo native is recovering today after a weekend airplane crash in Arizona that left one man dead.
According to a preliminary report filed by the National Transportation Safety Board, a Cessna 177 carrying Mesa residents Doug Kinneard and Stephanie and Christian Nielson crashed just after takeoff Saturday afternoon in St. Johns, Ariz. Stephanie Nielson is the daughter of Provo city councilwoman Cindy Clark and state lawmaker Stephen Clark.
A preliminary crash report stated the plane landed in St. Johns just after 3 p.m., bouncing on the runway and losing power. The pilot could not restart the engine and the aircraft was towed to the fueling area. With full tanks, the plane took off again at about 3:45 p.m. with no changes in engine power as it went down the runway. When the plane lifted off the runway, it did not continue to climb, and the plane stalled, veered to the left and crashed.
According to Stephanie Nielson's sister in a blog entry at cjanerun.com, Stephanie and Christian Nielson sustained serious burns in the crash and are expected to be hospitalized for several weeks.
Doug Kinneard, the pilot, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries and later died. Kinneard leaves behind a wife and four children, ages 13 to 25.
"I was able to talk to the Doctor today," she wrote Monday. "Steph is in for a long recovery (months). Christian is doing better. They are hoping to have him home in weeks."
Nielson's sister wrote that recovery bills are likely to reach into the millions. Donations can be made at Bank of America to the "Christian and Stephanie Nielson Rehab Fund," and at Wells Fargo to the "Stephanie Nielson Fund." A Facebook group has also been created for updates on the couple's condition, and the group will be letting ballons go at Kiwanis Park in Provo on Saturday evening.
For more information on the event, visit the "Stephanie and Christian Nielson Updates" group on Facebook.com. |
