Victims Identified in Portland Small Plane Crash

Oregon authorities have identified the three individuals who perished in a small plane crash near Portland last Saturday. The victims were Michael Busher, 73, the pilot; Jacqueline Whitford, 79, a flight instructor; and Fairview resident Barbara MacDonald, 75, who was not on board the plane, officials said. The Cessna 421C experienced "controllability" issues on a maintenance test flight, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The aircraft crashed into a row of eight townhomes in Fairview just five minutes after takeoff, destroying three units, as confirmed by Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis. MacDonald resided in one of the townhomes that the plane directly struck. Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O'Donnell stated that deputies evacuated residents and used garden hoses to calm the flames until firefighting teams arrived. The Port of Portland's website describes Troutdale Airport, the plane's origin, as a center for flight training and recreational aviation. The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation that will take up to eighteen months to complete. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)