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May 22, 2008 11:58 pm US/Eastern
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2 Killed In Northeast Small Plane Crash
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Two people were killed after a small plane crashed in Northeast Philadelphia Thursday.
The crash was reported at a warehouse on Red Lion Road near the Northeast Philadelphia airport at about noon.
An instructor and a student pilot, 24-year-old Charles Angelina, were killed in the tragic crash. They were apparently practicing take-offs and landings when the accident occurred.
The lightweight plane is an AA5 Grumman registered to Hortman Aviation, an area flight school and rental company.
Herb Hortman, of Hortman Aviation, explained what happened.
"On the climb out, there was no indication of any problems whatsoever and the tower asked them to make a turn, as soon as possible. Apparently they began to make a turn and that is what appears to be a stall-spin accident immediately thereafter," said Hortman.
Hortman said the small plane was equipped with dual controls.
Firefighters quickly put out a small fire which started after the plane struck a line of trailers.
Hortman said the crash does not appear to be a mechanical issue.
The crash is not the first tragedy to strike Hortman Aviation.
In August 2000, 11 people were killed after two planes collided in Burlington Township.
Less than a year later, two women were killed in July 2001 when a single-engine plane leased by the company crashed while approaching an airport in Lumberton, N.J.
"They do make a good training aircraft, and if you look at the number of hours they fly, they do have a fairly good safety record," Hortman said.
Thursday's incident remains under investigation.
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