Man Killed In Oakland Plane Crash Identified
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The pilot of a World War II-era plane that went down near Oakland International Airport was a 73-year-old Redwood City man who led a local flying club.
The Alameda County coroner identified the pilot as Richard Manuel.
Authorities say Manuel was flying a 1947 Navion A when he called in an emergency to air traffic control shortly after takeoff Sunday afternoon. The single-engine plane crashed nose-down in mud on the shore of San Leandro Bay.
Manuel was pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, and federal aviation records show no previous record of problems with Manuel's plane.
Chet Robbins, a friend and fellow pilot, told the Contra Costa Times that Manuel was president of the Golden Gate Navioneers who would organize member "fly-ins" every month.
