Plane, Helicopter Collide Near Gillespie Field, San Diego, California

Plane, Helicopter Collide Near Gillespie Field

Last Updated:
02-08-06 at 6:08PM

An experimental plane collided with a helicopter near Gillespie Field
in El Cajon Wednesday, sending debris crashing to the ground over a
nearby park and homes and killing three people.

The two aircraft collided in mid-air at 4:40 p.m. and crashed at the
El Cajon-La Mesa boundary near Fletcher Hills.

Monica Zech, a spokeswoman for the city of El Cajon, confirmed that
three people were killed when the planes collided.

....

One of the aircraft was apparently an experimental Cessna plane,
according to George Wood of the Heartland Fire Department.

Debris was seen in and around Harry Griffen Park near Grossmont High
School in eastern La Mesa. Two tarps apparently covering bodies were
seen near both crash sites.

Authorities closed the park after the crash and cordoned off the
wreckage scene. Some debris started a fire in the attic of a house,
but it was unknown if anyone was inside, Zech said.

Eyewitness Patty Lee said she and her husband were walking at the dog
park when they heard a pop, looked up and saw the helicopter’s cabin
land in the park.

“There was no one on the ground, but as we were leaving we saw two
bodies on the ground near the helicopter,” she said.