Michael Branch (b. November 19, 1949, d. February 01, 1997)
Michael Branch (son of Bill Branch and Verona Stone) was born November 19, 1949, and died February 01, 1997 in North Carolina.
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THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER PASSENGER CRASH-LANDS PLANE AFTER PILOT STRICKEN IN FLIGHT Sunday, February 2, 1997 Section: MAIN NEWS Page: 1A By LISA HAMMERSLY MUNN, Staff Writer * Staff writer BOB MEADOWS contributed to this article. Illustration: Photo Caption: Staff Photo By GARY O'BRIEN: Civil Air Patrol cadet Jared Hepler stands watch Saturday near a twin-engine plane that crash-landed near Monroe. After the pilot complained of chest pains and lost consciousness, the only passenger of a twin-engine airplane took the controls and crash-landed the small private plane Saturday near Monroe Municipal Airport. Michael Branch, 47, of Charlotte was pronounced dead at Union Regional Medical Center. The passenger, Randy Hinson, 53, of Mooresville, had never piloted a plane. He walked away with minor injuries after crash-landing the Beechcraft Baron 55. ``He landed it by instinct,'' said Hinson's son, Terrill Hinson. ``He had flown with Mike a lot and picked things up here and there. He'd also been in the plane while my brother was flying. But he'd never actually flown himself until today.'' Branch and Randy Hinson, who were longtime friends, were headed to Myrtle Beach for a day trip, Terrill Hinson said. Monroe Public Safety Department officers said Branch complained of chest pains shortly after takeoff, about a mile from the Monroe airport, and started turning the plane around. ``According to Hinson, (Branch) had started coughing and had turned white,'' said Capt. David Simpson of the Public Safety Department. ``He then fell unconscious.'' Hinson grabbed the controls. Because the airplane's radio wasn't tuned to the tower, he had no help from airport workers in landing the plane, said an airport official who didn't want to be identified. ``It was a blessing,'' the airport worker said. ``He was very fortunate.'' He also may have helped avert a bigger disaster, witnesses said. Several who watched the airplane descend thought it was going to hit the tower or a hangar, both crowded with weekend fliers and workers, Assistant Public Safety Chief Bobby Haulk said. ``But the plane went back up - the passenger apparently pulled up on the controls - and just missed,'' Haulk said. The plane clipped the top of a utility pole and smashed through some electrical wires before crash-landing into an embankment beside a gravel access road about 40 feet above the airport. The nose and wings crashed into three trees. Even so, the plane was right-side up, no fire broke out and rescue workers found Hinson conscious and talking. Haulk said he arrived within minutes and found the passenger ``sitting on a truck, talking to rescue workers.'' Terrill Hinson said his father was in good condition Saturday evening and calm after his ordeal. The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating.
Michael Branch (b. November 19, 1949, d. February 01, 1997)
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