Midair Plane Collision In Virginia Leaves 2 Dead, 1 Injured

Federal authorities have turned over the investigation of a fatal aircraft collision to Canadian officials because the accident involved planes owned by FAA and NTSB employees. National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman said the Transportation Safety Board of Canada agreed to take over the investigation.

"This accident hits especially close to home, with the involvement of an NTSB employee," Hersman said. "I'm grateful to TSB-Canada Chair Wendy Tadros for agreeing to conduct the investigation and the NTSB stands ready to support and assist them in any way we can."

The midair collision, which occurred Monday afternoon about 5 miles south of the Warrenton-Fauquier Airport in Sumerduck, Virginia, involved a Piper PA-28 and Beechcraft BE-35. The Piper PA-28, owned by 70-year-old Federal Aviation Administration employee Thomas Proven, crash landed in a field. Proven survived the accident with minor injuries. The BE-35, owned by an unidentified NTSB employee, burst into flames and crashed in a wooded area about 1 mile away from Proven’s crash site. The pilot and passenger were both killed.

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