2 who died in Oxnard plane crash were experienced pilots Ventura County Star
James ayers, 67, of newbury park, and donald"Craig"Tempelton, 54, of agoura
hills, were flying in ayers' plane when it went down for unknown reasons.
Neither victim's wife knew her husband would be flying saturday. Ayers' wife,
kathy, said he built the singleengine plane about two years ago.Ayers, president
of the experimental aircraft association in oxnard, had flown to cities in
california and participated in air shows in wisconsin and florida. "He was very
conscious of safety with the airplane,"His wife said monday. She said he loved
airplanes and had built model planes since he was 6.He sold plane parts from his
home after he retired as a mechanical engineer. The two met in santa monica and
had been married for 43 years.Their anniversary was coming up on july 10.The
couple have a daughter who recently moved back home from florida and four
grandchildren. Ayers was wellknown at the oxnard airport, where he went every
day and helped others build planes, his wife said. She said she used to be
scared to fly with him but mustered the courage to do it.They took trips to
santa maria, big bear and bakersfield last year. She said she was shocked to
hear the news of her husband's death and that all his the homepage here friends at
the airport were saddened. Witnesses said the plane appeared to have engine
problems before it went down, officials said.One witness said he saw the plane
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and could hear the engine cut out.After that, the plane went straight down, and
numerous people reported an explosion after the crash, officials said. The plane
was a singleengine, homebuilt model identified as a less drag special, according
to the federal aviation administration.Ayers' business was named less drag
products. The plane was registered to ayers and based out of the oxnard
airport.It had two seats with a single engine and was described as a
260horsepower lycoming. Jorge rubio, oxnard airport's manager, said ayers
founded and was president of the experimental aircraft association chapter
there. "James was a champion for hangar owners and the eaa.We're sad to see him
go,"Rubio said. "We were used to james, and it's going to be a little different
without him here. " Rubio said homebuilt planes are generally safe and that he
knew ayers to be a safe, reliable pilot. "He wasn't just anybody;He was an
engineer,"Rubio said. "For the most part,(Pilots of homebuilt planes)Have to
follow the same faa requirements, and they have to be certified. " Tempelton had
had his pilot's license for about five years and recently built a similar plane
with the help of his neighbor, said his wife, kim tempelton. She said her
husband wanted to fly planes since he was a boy.The two met in san jose and
celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary in may.Tempelton's birthday was coming
up this month.
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