Arizona woman dies in plane crash in Oregon

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Three people were killed when a small plane crashed into row houses outside Portland, Oregon.

Jacqueline Whitford, 79, of Arizona, was in Oregon on August 31 doing what she loved when something went wrong.

Surveillance camera footage showed the plane carrying Whitford hitting power lines and then exploding in a ball of fire as it crashed into a row of townhouses.

The sheriff's office said both Whitford and the pilot, 73-year-old Michael Busher, died in the crash. A woman who was in her row house at the time was struck and also died of her injuries. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported having trouble controlling the plane. Seconds later, the plane crashed.

Barry Caraway knows Whitford well. She taught him and many others in the valley to fly.

“It's always sad when you lose a friend, but when it's a hobby friend, it's even worse. This is someone you knew for 14 years and flew on a plane with several times. We were shocked,” Caraway said. “She lived and breathed aviation.”

The National Transportation Safety Board said the Cessna 421C was on a maintenance test flight. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported problems with the aircraft's controls. Seconds later, the plane crashed.

“Aviation was her life, along with her family, and she enjoyed every second of it,” Caraway said.

He says Jackie loved her job and was always learning and sharing her knowledge with others. He says everyone at Deer Valley Airport knows her.

“She taught a lot out here,” he said. “She was the first to say, 'Yeah, I'll go ride with you,' or 'I'll check it out.'”

In 2003, the FAA awarded Jackie its Flight Instructor of the Year award. Caraway says she was exceptionally good at what she did, and he's keen to learn more about how she got there.

“She was very detail-oriented and left nothing out,” he said. “She was a joy. This airport will miss her. She did so much for so many.”

The NTSB is leading that investigation and said it could take another year and a half to complete.

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