FAA Investigates Indian Wells Plane Crash

PALM SPRINGS -A Federal Aviation Administration safety investigator in on-hand today to inspect the wreckage of a small plane that crashed in Indian Wells to determine what caused the aircraft to lose power.

The plane, which crashed around 3:30 p.m. Monday in a field near Washington Street and Miles Avenue, is being held in a hangar at Palm Springs International Airport, said FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.

The investigator will also try to contact the pilot who crash-landed the SportCruiser, which had departed Palm Springs International Airport and was on its way back to the airfield, Gregor said.

Two men in the plane were taken to Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. News Channel 3 has learned their names are John McClair and Harold Williamson. It’s not clear who was at the controls at the time of the crash.

Williamson is a former director and a longtime volunteer for the Palm Springs Air Museum.

McClair is doing well, and was reportedly discharged from the hospital, this morning. Williamson is still at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, and we don’t know his condition.

The plane, which is registered to the Desert West Aviation flight school, is listed for rent for $105 an hour on the company’s Web site.