Federal investigators looking into fatal plane crash south of Wichita
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Image by photos by John Wright
A FedEx delivery plane crashed southwest of Wichita early Tuesday morning, and the pilot was killed. He was identified as 52-year-old Brian Quinn of Lawrence.
"At approximately 7:46 this morning, 911 received a call of a possible plane crash on 47th Street between Tyler and Maize Road," said Sedgwick County Sheriff Captain Annette Haga. "Deputies and airport safety personnel responded, and found on the north side of 47th, a FedEx plane which had apparently landed prior to hitting the tree row - but did collide with the tree row."
A deputy found the pilot dead inside the aircraft. Haga said the FAA has been notified of the crash.
Haga said there was a fire in the area after the crash, "but we do not have an engulfed airplane."
Tony Molinaro, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the pilot of the Cessna reported engine trouble shortly after taking off from Mid-Continent Airport. Molinaro said the pilot was trying to return to the airport when the crash occurred about two miles from the airport. The plane was headed to Garden City.
FAA records show the plane was registered to Fed Ex Corp. Fed Ex spokesperson Shea Leordeanu said in an emailed statement that the company extended its "thoughts and prayers'' to people affected by the crash and referred questions to Baron Aviation, which operated the plane.
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