News

Released: January 16, 2015 - Friday, 03:30 PM

Plane Crash

Contact: Tony CipollaPhone: (805) 781 4547Date and time of incident: 1-16-15, Approximately 10:36 AMPlace of Occurrence: Highway 166 at mile marker 40, San Luis Obispo CountyVictim Information: John Charles Butler, 76, Phoenix, AZ Pamela Butler Zirion, 67, San Luis ObispoSuspect Information: N/AOn 1-16-15, Sheriff's Deputies responded to a plane that was reporting problems with its engine and was attempting to land on Highway 166. A portion of that road was closed to allow the plane to land.
The aircraft landed in a riverbed adjacent to Highway 166 and flipped upside down.
Two occupants were on board on the plane. The pilot is 76-year-old John Charles Butler of Phoenix, AZ. The passenger is 67-year old Pamela Butler Zirion of San Luis Obispo. Both occupants are fine and were able to extricate themselves from the plane without any assistance. Both declined medical assistance at the scene.
Cal Fire, Santa Barbara County Fire, CHP, State Fish & Wildlife, and U.S. Forest Rangers assisted with the investigation.
The Sheriff's Office conducted the initial investigation and will turn over its findings to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for further investigation.