Airport Delays Flights After Crash - Roanoke Regional Airport

Sunday, October 12, 2003

Airport Delays Flights After Crash
By MASON ADAMS
THE ROANOKE TIMES

   A small plane crashed while landing at Roanoke Regional Airport on
Saturday night, forcing the delay or diversion of five flights,
according to airport officials.

    Robert Kennedy of Hardy was landing his Lance Air 320 Experimental
plane about 7 p.m. when his propeller hit the runway and the nose
landing gear collapsed, said John McClendon, director of operations at
the airport.

    Hardy, the only person in the plane, was uninjured, McClendon said.

    The only other runway at the airport is under construction, so flights
were delayed while Virginia State Police investigated the crash. The
Federal Aviation Administration is taking over the investigation early
this week.

    One flight from Chicago was diverted to Dulles International Airport
near Washington, D.C., and passengers were to be brought to Roanoke by
bus.

    Roanoke resident Mary Dodge, who was waiting for her daughter, Kelly
Dodge, wasn't happy about that. Kelly Dodge, who is in the Air Force,
has been training in San Antonio, Texas, since May.

    "She's coming in, but she's headed back out to South Korea for a
year," Mary Dodge said. "Every minute counts."

    Another military mother, Shirley Hatcher of Natural Bridge, waited
anxiously for her son's plane from Atlanta. Army Specialist Jim
Hatcher has been in Iraq since April and is home for two weeks before
having to go back. Shirley Hatcher got to the airport at 7 p.m. and
finally got to hug her son when his delayed flight arrived nearly
three hours later.

    McClendon said five flights were affected by the crash. He said
Kennedy had taken off for New London, Conn., before returning to the
Roanoke airport. McClendon said he did not know the cause of the
wreck.

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