BajaNomad

Plane crash in Punta Final?

Kell-Baja - 6-15-2007 at 02:03 PM

Has anyone heard of a small plane crashing in Punta Final? My boss has a house down there and heard that his neighbors were killed in a plane crash there. Any info would be appreciated.

capt. mike - 6-15-2007 at 02:41 PM

nothing on the BBP about it as of yet.

when was this?

fdt - 6-15-2007 at 02:50 PM

It's been on the news several times on the radio, pilots name was John W. Kiesow from Agua Dulce California, foud article on La Cronica de Mexicali :(
http://www.lacronica.com/edicionimpresa/Hoy/General/512000.a...
http://www.lacronica.com/edicionimpresa/Hoy/General/20070615...

fdt - 6-15-2007 at 02:51 PM

This happened yesterday morning

[Edited on 6-15-2007 by fdt]

fdt - 6-15-2007 at 02:57 PM

This report sais that residents from Alfonsinas and Gonzaga said that planes occupants were firefighters.
http://www.elvigia.net/noticias/?seccion=generales&id=36...

I wonder how long this post will last

bancoduo - 6-15-2007 at 03:43 PM

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-ex-firefighter15jun15,1...

capt. mike - 6-15-2007 at 04:01 PM

sorry to hear of this.

BajaWarrior - 6-15-2007 at 04:10 PM

That is a damn shame, my condolences to the families...

Kell-Baja - 6-15-2007 at 04:11 PM

Thanks everyone.

Edguero - 6-15-2007 at 10:18 PM

Hugs for the families
Vern, Caren, Drue and Doug and the rest of Punta Final

can anyone with Spanish skills here

capt. mike - 6-16-2007 at 05:07 AM

translate some of the eyewitness rreports carried in the Spanish lengua paper reports?
one says it "hit a wind" 100 meters into the bay??
that doesn't make sense. Did it go into water? right post take off?

any all details would be helpful to others in understanding what might have gone wrong.

News Article

bajaguy - 6-16-2007 at 06:26 AM

From the Pasadena Star-News:

2 men die in plane crash
Firefighters were on a fishing trip
By Emanuel Parker Staff Writer
Article Launched: 06/16/2007 12:03:06 AM PDT


PASADENA - Two veteran Pasadena firefighters were killed Thursday when their private plane plunged into the Sea of Cortez in an off-duty accident.

Kenneth Soltis, 47, of La Verne and John Kiesow, 49, of Agua Dulce were killed in the late-morning crash in shallow water off the east coast of Baja, Mexico, said Pasadena fire Chief Dennis J. Downs.

The chief said the men were on a fishing vacation and were returning to Pasadena when the crash occurred. They were scheduled to report to work at 7 a.m. Friday, Downs said.

Information about the crash was arriving via the Mexican consulate in Los Angeles, said Lisa Derderian, a department spokeswoman, and department officials were piecing together the sketchy details.

Kiesow, a 26-year department veteran, was an avid flier who owned several planes and was piloting the plane that crashed, Derderian said. Kiesow and Soltis are believed to be the plane's only occupants, Downs said.

Kiesow worked at Fire Station 33 on Lake Avenue near Villa Street. Soltis was stationed at Fire Station 39 on Avenue 64. Pasadena firefighters were offered grief counseling Friday, Derderian said.

Soltis, also known as Barney, served 20 years with the department. He is survived by his wife, Shanna, and three daughters ages 20, 18 and 13.

Kiesow leaves behind a wife, Verlene, and two daughters and a son, all grown. Firefighters who worked with him recalled how he much he loved model planes and how he taught them how to build and fly them.

Downs said firefighters spend one-third of their lives with each other and away from their families.

"So you talk about families, we really are one," he said. "We rely on each other in life-threatening situations."

Funeral services for the pair are pending, Derderian said, and will be announced as soon as the dates are confirmed.

Downs said U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, offered to get the U.S. State Department involved if there was any difficult arranging for the quick return of the bodies.

emanuel.parker@sgvn.com

(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4475