Local News
Ken Shaffer killed in plane crash near Goheen Airport in Battle Ground
BATTLE GROUND, Wash. – Authorities are investigating a fatal plane crash that occurred Friday afternoon near Goheen Airport in Battle Ground, Washington, claiming the life of a local pilot.
The aircraft, identified as a Cessna 172, went down in a field just outside the airport perimeter shortly after 1 p.m.
Upon impact, the plane’s fuselage was severely damaged, with portions of the registration number still visible on the wreckage.
The aircraft became fully engulfed in flames immediately after the crash.
Emergency responders from Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue arrived on scene within seven minutes of receiving the call.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze quickly but confirmed that the pilot, Ken Shaffer, did not survive the crash.
No additional passengers were reported to be on board.
Early observations of the crash site and accounts from witnesses suggest the plane may have entered a near-vertical impact with moderate energy, raising the possibility of a stall/spin event.
However, officials stressed that these findings are preliminary and that the official cause of the crash will not be determined until the investigation is complete.
Weather conditions at the time of the accident did not appear to play a role.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has secured the scene and is working in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to conduct a comprehensive investigation.
Authorities are expected to release further details as the investigation progresses.
AIKEN, S.C. — A 19-year-old Aiken woman was killed Monday night after the vehicle she was driving left the roadway and crashed into a tree before catching fire, according to the Aiken County Coroner’s Office.
The fatal single-vehicle crash occurred at approximately 9:12 p.m. in the 400 block of Monetta Street. A Honda Civic was traveling northbound when it veered off the roadway, struck a tree and burst into flames.
The driver was identified as Damira Hammonds, 19, of Aiken.
She was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 9:43 p.m.
A passenger in the Honda Civic survived the crash and was transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries. Authorities have not released additional information about the passenger’s condition.
The Aiken County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy is expected to be scheduled later this week in Newberry to assist in determining the official cause of death.
The Aiken County Coroner’s Office and South Carolina Highway Patrol are investigating the crash. Officials have not released additional details about what caused the Honda Civic to leave the roadway.