Former Ohio Rep. Gene Damschroder Sr., 86, was piloting Cessna

[PyrateJohn]

updated 8:17 p.m. ET, Sun., June. 8, 2008
FREMONT, Ohio - A small plane crashed Sunday afternoon in a
residential area and killed all six people aboard, including the
pilot, a former state lawmaker who had offered joyrides to airport
visitors after a charity breakfast.

Gene Damschroder Sr., 86, was flying the fixed-wing, single-engine
Cessna when it crashed about 1 p.m., the Ohio State Highway Patrol
said. His five passengers also died in the crash in Sandusky County.

"It was just kind of an accident. He was giving airplane rides. He
always gives charity air rides," said Gene Damschroder's son, Rex
Damschroder, who was not at the airport when the plane crashed.

"Someone said they heard the engine sputter," he said. "The next thing
we knew they were down in a field in a residential area."

No one on the ground was injured, and no buildings were damaged,
patrol Lt. Tony Bradshaw said. It was too early to tell what caused
the crash. The National Weather Service said there was no severe
weather in the area at the time.

The Lions Club of Fremont on Sunday held a fly-in breakfast, inviting
nearby pilots to fly to Fremont Airport and display their planes.

After the event, Damschroder offered visitors a chance to go up in
planes for the cost of fuel, according to a poster at the airport. The
joyrides were not related to the Lions Club event.

Authorities could not confirm that those on board had taken
Damschroder up on his offer. Also killed were Bill Ansted, 62; Allison
Ansted, 23; Danielle Gerwin, 31; Emily Gerwin, 4; and Matt Clearman,
25.

Federal investigators were on their way to the crash site, Bradshaw
said.

Damschroder served in the state House from 1973 to 1983 as a
Republican. Rex Damschroder later served the same seat from 1995 to
2003.

"He's been flying since World War II. He's been flying for sixty
years," Rex Damschroder said. "He's been instructing daily and flying
daily since World War II. Flying was his life."

Gene Damschroder was a World War II pilot who bought his Cessna four
decades ago. Federal records indicate he was a certified flight
instructor and was licensed to fly both single- and multi-engine
planes.

"He's flown enough; this is puzzling," his son said.

[PyrateJohn]

Sorry about that ... wrong list!