Plane Crash Near Bend Kills Calif. CEO

By Joseph Friedrichs, 7-16-08

One of the busiest private airport facilities west of the Mississippi River was the site of a fatal plane crash Wednesday afternoon.

Douglas J. Sharratt, 50, the top official of a California high-tech company died when his small aircraft crashed and exploded into a ball of flames when he attempted to land at the Sunriver Resort’s airstrip, located fewer than 30 miles from Bend.

Because the airstrip is surrounded by walking and biking paths, as well as numerous homes, at least several people witnessed the crash and follow-up explosion. 

Apparently Sharratt had trouble with the landing, as one woman who captured the incident by photograph reports. Images show the plane’s right wing impacting the ground and ultimately sending the machine out of control.