Pilot of aircraft died and instructor injured when airplane crashed during an attempted landing Wednesday in Camas
The pilot involved in a fatal aircraft crash Wednesday at Grove Field in Camas has been identified by the Clark County Medical Examiner as 69-year-old Vancouver resident Mark Lewallen.
Lewallen, the pilot and owner of the small aircraft died, when his aircraft crashed while attempting to land. Grove Field was closed temporarily after the crash but has since reopened.
According to observers at the airport, the aircraft had attempted an initial landing, executed a missed approach, and flew around the air traffic pattern before attempting a second landing. During the second landing attempt, the pilot was observed to attempt a rejected landing procedure. After becoming airborne for a short time, the plane then crashed into a hanger at the airfield.
East County Fire and Rescue Chief Mike Carnes said the small aircraft, a BT-13 plane, crashed into a hangar on the northwestern end of the airfield.
Lewallen was accompanied by an instructor, who was said to have non-life threatening injuries.
