FRIENDS’ SKI TRIP ENDS IN DEADLY PLANE CRASH

March 17, 2011
Abram I. Bohrer

A Beechcraft King Air en route from Long Beach Airport to Salt Lake City crashed shortly after take-off on Wednesday morning killing five and leaving one passenger in critical condition.
The accident happened at 10:30 a.m. as the plane was taking off from Long Beach Municipal Airport for Salt Lake City, according to Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor

According to authorities, the pilot of the twin engine propeller aircraft was circling back to land when the plane slammed into the ground, then came to rest on the grass a short distance away. Authorities are still trying to determine what caused the accident.

According to persons with knowledge the six men were friends and business associates heading to Utah for a ski trip. They were identified as real estate investor Tom Dean, 50, and his business partner Jeff Berger. Also killed were Bruce Krall, real estate broker Mark Bixby, 44 as well as Bruce Krall, a managing director of Cohen Financial.

The injured survivor, 51-year-old real estate executive Mike Jensen, was transported to Long Beach Memorial Hospital in critical condition.

The FAA and NTSB are investigating