EAGAR, AZ (NAZ Today)– A small plane crashed into a school in Eagar, a small town in eastern Arizona, killing all four people on board Friday afternoon.
Smoke coming from Round Valley High School where a Cessna crashed into the main classroom building (Photo: Loren W. Begay, Resident) (CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE)
Apache County Sheriff’s Office Commander Matrese Avila says a small Cessna crashed into the high school, and officials evacuated homes in the neighborhoods to the north and east of the school because of high winds and some fuel tanks located nearby.
After taking off from the Springerville aiport, the Cessna circled the area two or three times before it suddenly crashed into the main building at Round Valley High School in Eagar at about 2 p.m., Apache County sheriff’s Sgt. Richard Guinn said. Several reports are indicating that the plane may have been trying to make an emergency landing on the practice football field next to the Round Valley Ensphere Dome, which is the football stadium on the high school’s campus.
Firefighters from nearly a dozen agencies fought flames that were erupting 20 to 30 feet above the roof of the two-story school. It took several hours for firefighters to put out the blaze.
National Transportation Safety Board officials were expected at the crash scene Saturday morning to handle the investigation, according to Show Low Fire Department spokesman Eric Neitzel.
If you have any photos from the area, email them to web@naztoday.com along with your name so that we can give you credit.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Flames and smoke billow from Round Valley High School in Eagar (Photo: Nick Waters/Eagar Resident)
Smoke rises into the air after a small plane crashed into Round Valley High School in Eager, Ariz. on Friday, June 11, 2010. (AP Photo/The White Mountain Independent, Karen Warnick)
Aircraft takes off and thus changes its attitude. Is it possible that when the aircraft takes off and changes its attitude that undetectable water in the fuel tank changes its attitude (hiding place) then makes it to the fuel pick-up and the engine fails? The NTSB has known about a lack of positive detection of water in the fuel tanks of many general aviation aircraft. What real world test of actually pouring red dyed water into the fuel tank of a manufactured or home built aircraft is required? The test is a simple one, only takes a 16 oz cup of water dyed with red food color. Pour it into the fuel tank as the aircraft sits in its normal ground attitude then go to the sump drains and see if you can positively detect and eliminate the same 16 oz you just poured into the tank.
To my knowledge there is no, nada, nothing mandated by the FAA at all about this simple real world test.
This is a sad story!! People from St. Johns think it’s funny that Round Valley school just had a plane crash into it! They dont even take into concideration that people died on that plane!! Somone out there lost there family and you people think its funny!! Its not put yourself in there shoes!! You would hate if that was your family or your school!! The school on fire is sad!! Its not something to go around laughing about!! Its kinda messed up that people will sit there and laugh!! Yes I know St. Johns And round valley are rivals But put it all aside!!! They need help right now!! hopefully rv gets there shchool back up and running!! Good luck to youall!