A Turlock man piloting an antique plane at a special event in Oregon was one of two fatalities when the plane crashed during takeoff.
The deceased were identified as Matthew Titus, 56, of Turlock and Ben Davidson, 55, of Hood River, Oregon.
The two men were participating in the Hood River Fly-In at the Ken Jernstedt Airfield and hosted by the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum.
The plane crash happened just after 10 a.m. Friday. Witnesses reported hearing the engine cut out, at which point the plane nosed down and turned to the right before striking the ground at a steep angle, according to the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office.
Both men were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The plane was a single-engine Super Cub.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
