Small-Plane Collision on Idaho Runway Kills 3, Hurts 3

McCALL, Idaho (AP) _ A small plane struck another craft as it was landing at an Idaho airport, killing three people and injuring three, including a 2-year-old pulled from the burning wreckage by the other survivors, officials said Saturday.

A Cessna 172 with two people aboard was landing at the McCall Municipal Airport on Friday night when it struck another plane of the same type with four people aboard, said Ian Gregor, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman. Both aircraft exploded, he said.

Killed were Bill Keating, 52, the pilot of the aircraft that was struck, and two grandsons, ages 1 and 6, McCall police and fire officials said in a statement.

Another grandson, 2, was flown to the University of Utah Burn Center in critical condition, the statement said.

The pilot of the landing aircraft, Justin Mooney, 30, and passenger Mark Fuller, 27, pulled the 2-year-old from the burning plane, the statement said. They were treated and released from McCall Memorial Hospital, a nursing supervisor said Saturday.

Mooney and Fuller had taken off from Felts Field at Spokane, Wash., Gregor said.

The McCall airport, which has no air traffic control tower, remained closed Saturday while federal authorities investigated.

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