Report from the "SME"

Sounds like Roger is going to be in California for "awhile" - a big mess - the investigation and clean up of the airplane crash will take time and it's Omega's responsibility. It appears that one of the engines fell off ! He said the debris is scattered for 1/4 mile across the ramp and the plane ended up in a muddy bog at the edge of the airport property. The good news is that the crash sprayed water and mud all over - which helped dampen the fire - but the bad news is that the plane is packed full of and laying in sticky, clay like mud that you can't move in.  The crew had trouble opening the cockpit door because of the packed mud and then had to jump into the water and wallow about 400 yards to get away from the fire. Thank God they are all OK and home with their families! One of the firemen, first on the scene, told Roger he saw them coming toward him and thought they were burned on the lower part of their bodies -  imagine his relief to find out it was just mud! The biggest problem is that the bog is a registered environmental site - so, clean up of fuel and airplane parts will be a nightmare. Roger is working closely with the insurance agent, who has done this before, to figure out the best way to proceed. They will have to store what is left of the plane and all the parts until the investigation is completed, which could take over a year. Roger says his major contribution so far has been identifying the airplane parts when found. Despite it all - it is very interesting and now he is the "SME" for this project!