James Parnell, 74

As reported in the Beaufort Gazette, Beaufort, SC March 4, 2009

A Ridgeland pilot who died Monday March 2, 2009 from injuries in a plane crash at Ridgeland Airport, SC on Thursday February 26 had recently been rewarded for his record of safety and experience flying, friends and family said.

James Parnell, 74, and his son, Mike Parnell, crash-landed after their plane had engine problems shortly after takeoff, on February 26, 2009. It was unclear who was piloting the plane.

James Parnell died on March 2, 2009 at Savannah's Memorial Health University Medical Center from his injuries. Mike Parnell, a mechanic with US Airways, suffered several broken ribs and a broken vertebra in the crash, relatives said. He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

James Parnell worked as an airplane mechanic and Federal Aviation Administration crash-scene investigator for 35 years.

"There wasn't an engine he didn't know how to repair," longtime friend and co-worker Dick Hitt said. "He had more knowledge about airplanes than just about anyone."

The FAA awarded James Parnell a Master Pilot certificate last year for 50 years of flying experience without a crash, relatives said. He was also given a Master Mechanic award for 50 years of experience.

Parnell did all of the work on his single-engine Piper Cherokee 140, Hitt said, and if the crash was caused by mechanical failure, it was a fluke.

"You couldn't find a safer plane than one (Parnell) had worked on," Hitt said.

Parnell's plane began sputtering shortly after takeoff Thursday. The single-engine plane was returning to the airport when it suddenly lost altitude and crashed on its belly, snapping the wheels off. A witness to the crash, Gene Cleland, said Monday it appeared the plane lost momentum before it crashed.

The FAA and National Traffic Safety Administration are investigating, Keith Holloway, an NTSB spokesman, said. A preliminary report is expected next week, but a complete report will not be available for 12 to 18 months, he said.

Parnell's wife of 21 years, Bess Parnell, said airplanes and airplane safety were her husband's life's work.

"We got to fly all over the world as he worked on planes and taught pilots and crews about safety," she said. "It was who he was and he loved it."

Parnell had planned to give his plane to his son, Mike.

In recent years, medical problems had cut into Parnell's flying time, but he longed to be in the sky whenever he had a free moment, Bess said.

"Back in his day, he was 'Mr. Airplane,' " she said. "That's how we'll remember him."