Two killed in plane crash

Two men were killed on Monday, November 26 when the two seater experimental RV6 airplane crashed in a field just west of Brewester Road. Timothy Dean Carter, 46, of Portland and Jeff Earl Kropf, 45, of Halsey were the only two on board. Carter, the owner of the plane, had a private pilot license. Kropf had a commercial pilot license. Both died on impact. Following being extricated from the plane, both were taken to Fisher Funeral Home in Albany.

According to the Linn County Sheriff's Office, witnesses reported that a small, eastbound plane crossed Brewster Road before banking to the left over Highway 226. While in the turn, part of one of the plane's wings separated from the plane and fell onto the highway just north of Brewster Road. The plane traveled several thousand feet south of the intersection before coming to rest in a cow pasture. It was reported that the plane took off from Lebanon Airport at 3:30pm and was on a pleasure flight. The first 911 call came in at 3:37pm.

Ranee Lawhon of Scio tried to make the 911 call but couldn't get through. She said the car behind her did get through and made the report. She estimated her car was approximately 30 yards from the crash site. “The plane literally fell from the sky.” She ran toward the site and was preparing to jump the fence when the driver of the vehicle behind her said he was a paramedic. He approached the crash site then turned toward Lawhon. “He said there were casualties and that there was nothing to do.” Lawhon remained on the scene until police arrived. They took her name, allowed her to leave the scene and telephoned her less than an hour later.

The Linn County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Multi Agency Investigation Team which included members from the Oregon State Police, Linn County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, the Albany Police Department and the Lebanon Police Department. Volunteers from the Scio Rural Fire District's Stations 91 and 92 and paramedics from the Lebanon Fire District assisted at the scene with extrication. Highway 226 was closed for close to 4 hours while the scene was being investigated.

Lawhon said it took a moment or two to register exactly what she was seeing. Once she did, the Scio resident said she stopped her vehicle. “We could see the wing was gone,” said Lawhon. She said she noticed the cows in the nearby field began to scatter just prior to the plane crashing. She noticed no smoke in the sky so could not say if the plane was on fire prior to crashing. She did say that debris from the plane continued to fall from the sky for approximately five to ten minutes as she waited for police to arrive. “I feel horrible for the families.”

Former state senator Jeff Kropf is a cousin to the deceased Kropf. “Like me, Jeff was a bit of a free spirit with his love of flying, motorcycles and music.” Kropf confirmed his cousin's passion for helping others. “He brought the joy of flying to so many disabled children and left a positive mark on their lives,” he said of the children he took up in his airplane. “He will be missed.”

The investigation continues. The Linn County Sheriff's Office is coordinating efforts with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.