From the Pensacola News Journal:
http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080314/NEWS01/80314041/1006
Two pilots based out of Whiting Field Naval Air Station were killed today when their T-34C Turbomentor crashed into the side of a north Alabama mountain.
The names of those killed are being withheld, pending notification of their families.
The T-34C Turbomentor, a two-seat training aircraft, was assigned to Training Squadron 6 based out of Whiting Field, according to base officials.
The plane was on a routine training mission when it crashed about 3:45 p.m., Whiting officials said.
According to the Birmingham News, the aircraft crashed into the side of Chandler Mountain in northern St. Clair County, Ala. The site is about 60 miles north of Birmingham.
Searchers were having to rappel to the crash site because access was difficult.
St. Clair County’s 911 director Bill Richvalsky said: “People who called in said they heard this big loud ... explosion and when they looked up, they could see fire on the side of the mountain,” Richvalsky said.
“One of the people said that (the aircraft was) pretty well tore up.”
The Talladega (Ala.) Daily Home newspaper reported on its Web site that residents reported hearing the sound of a plane, then a loud explosion.
A Daily Home reporter at the scene of the wreck said it appears the plane crashed into a cliff on Chandler mountain near Loop Road and Horse Pens 40.
News of the crash stunned the Milton community.
“Anytime we have a loss of our military personnel, it is a sad day in Santa Rosa County,” said Don Salter, county commissioner.
