Lost a great friend yesterday.

[Ruidoso Ron]

Jerry and I worked together at King Radio in the late 70's and early 80's. Heck of a great guy, and a real professional pilot. Got to visit with him at OSH this year for a long time. Sure glad I did.


Accident Claims Life Of Garmin Sales Manager
Wed, 12 Nov '08

Funeral Arrangements Pending For Jerry Smith
Details are sketchy about the downing of a Cessna 177RG Cardinal Tuesday near Mena, AR... but the identity of the lone person onboard has been confirmed.



Representatives with Garmin say Jerry L. Smith was flying his personal plane (similar to graphic shown below) when it crashed for still undetermined reasons some time before 2 pm Tuesday near Queen Wilhelmina State Park.

Smith was Garmin's Aviation Regional Sales Manager for the South Central United States. The avionics maker says he was flying on a business trip.

Local officials say police received a call about a possible plane crash from a local resident who heard an explosion. Authorities found the wreckage soon after, stating it appeared the plane caught fire on impact.

"Jerry joined Garmin in 1994 as a Regional Sales Manager and had the distinction of being one of the first aviation sales managers hired by Garmin," the company said in a release to ANN. "He was a vital member of Garmin’s aviation sales team, as well as a commercial pilot with instrument, multi-engine and instructor (CFII and MEI) ratings with over 20,000 hours. Jerry was involved with the aviation industry for over four decades and held positions at BF Goodrich Aerospace, where he did research flying for Stormscope and TCAS, King Radio, and others.



"Beyond his professional contributions, even more sorely missed will be his zest for life and sense of humor, which everyone will remember. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jerry's family, friends, coworkers and customers as their lives have been changed forever by this tragic event."

Funeral arrangements are pending. The FAA and NTSB are on scene.

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 2526V Make/Model: C177 Description: 177, Cardinal
Date: 11/11/2008 Time: 1446

Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
City: MENA State: AR Country: US

DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ONE PERSON ON BOARD WAS
FATALLY INJURED, 5 MILES FROM RICH MOUNTAIN, MENA, AR

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: KNWT 112153Z AUTO 11003KT 10SM OVC006 13/12 A2994

OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER


FAA FSDO: LITTLE ROCK, AR (SW11) Entry date: 11/12/2008

FMI: www.garmin.com, www.faa.gov

 

[Lippy]

Prayers go out to his family. I’m sure he’s flying a new pair of wings in Heaven.

Lippy

 

[RedEye]

Thoughts n prayers

 

[375handh]

Ron:

Really sorry to hear of your loss and that of your friend's family.

All my best thoughts and wishes.

Larry

 

[5139Y]

Ron, do not Know you well, but, have lost many friends and familly to aircraft in alaska. One thing I have been taught by my wife is "thank the lord you had a chance to know that man." She is once again is correct. I hope your sorrow and regret is so intense that you call all the so called close friends of his and buy a keg and a pig and send him out with a hoot. The next time I am at the homestead I will raise a glass to him in your honor aka alaska.

 

[OLDCROWE]

Ron,

Truly sorry for the loss of your friend. The area is just a couple hours by ground southeast of me. That park mentioned is located just over the Arkansas/Oklahoma border in Arkansas. I know this terrain well having hiked, camped and hunted all over the area since I was a boysprout.

Perhaps it will be of some comfort to know that this area is one of the most beautiful and tranquil locations in the South or most anywhere else for that matter.

http://www.talimenascenicdrive.com/

Prayers,

Kirby

 

[Ruidoso Ron]

Thanks Fellows. I appreciate your comments. I have also spent a lot of time in the area. I have ridden the Talimena Trail on my motorcycle for years. I have flown the area many, many times. The VOR there, Page Mountain, was renamed with the mountain's name (I can't remember the original name), many years ago, after a Trans-Texas Convair 600 flew into it, trying to remain VFR. They renamed it to emphasize that there really were mountains in Arkansas, and that when they said "VFR not recommended", they really meant it.

Jerry was from nearby, and a pro. I can't imagine him trying to scud-run in the area. It is my understanding that they have not located a filed IFR flightplan. He had every device that Garmin had available in his Cardinal (including autopilot). It was a beauty, and he was very proud of it.

 

[cafi19]

friends

I'm sorry to hear of your loss Ron!

It is very difficult to lose a friend. More so perhaps when you haven't had the opportunity to spend time of late. I'm glad that you HAD that opportunity!

You, my friends, are all very dear to me! Please be safe!

cafi

 

[CloudDancer]

Hey Ron -

Condolences to you and Jerry's family.

Eternal tailwinds for Jerry


CloudDancer

 

[ag-pilot]

sorry

Ron, Sorry to hear about your buddy. Check your PMs
Dave

 

[henry]

accident in arkansas

Ron the name of the Vor. is Rich Mountain near Mena. That is some of the most rugged terrain in arkansas. Henry

 

[Ruidoso Ron]

Re: accident in arkansas

Ron the name of the Vor. is Rich Mountain near Mena. That is some of the most rugged terrain in arkansas. Henry

That's right. I think that it used to be called Page VOR.

 

[Scruffdog]

Sorry to hear about this Ron. Very sad indeed.

 

[Carbon Cub Chick]

Ron, Very sorry to hear about your friend. It was on the news here and in the paper the next day. There are indeed some mountains in Arkansas, but it sounds like he was a very competent pilot with a well equipped airplane.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends~
tish