By David Esteppe
When a small, four passenger single engine aircraft crash landed Monday afternoon after taking off from Greenbrier Valley Airport (GVA), it became only the second accident at the airport in 21 years that Airport Manager Jerry O’Sullivan can report.
“Twenty years ago a Leer jet ran off the runway, but no injuries occurred with that incident,” said O’Sullivan.
Ashland, VA, resident Greg Stoneman took off from GVA and apparently lost power to the aircraft, and crash landed in a field just outside of airport property at approximately 1 p.m. With unspecified injuries, the pilot, the only person on the plane, was airlifted to a Roanoke hospital.
O’Sullivan said the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the cause of the crash, and this could take several months. He added that he was very impressed and grateful for the efficacy of the first responders: Lewisburg Fire Department, county and state police, and the airport rescue personnel. The first responders took care of the injured pilot and secured the scene.
In response to the question of airline safety, O’Sullivan says there is a long record of commercial airline safety indicating that it is far safer to fly on a commercial airline than to drive a car. O’Sullivan also reports positive feedback from the public in regards to the increased current early morning departure and later arrival times, which allow for more convenient traveling plans.
