Son of pilot in Farmington plane crash dies
The third person involved in a plane crash Friday near Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington died after suffering severe burns.
Erick Carlson, 27, died at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital Saturday night, said scene specialist John Kondrla of the Fayette County Coroner’s office.
An autopsy was performed Sunday morning.
Carlson’s cousin, Billy Wakeham, of Yakima, Washington, said Carlson fled from the crash on fire, running 100 yards before collapsing.
“I love my cousin,” he said crying.
The other two occupants, pilot Terry Carlson, 68, and Jason Willems, 26, both died on the scene.
The three were from the Washington, D.C.,-metro area.
The National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration and local authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
The plane, a Beechcraft BE36 registered to the pilot, crashed soon after taking off from the Nemacolin air strip, hitting the ground in a private wooded area near the 11th hole fairway of the Links golf course at about 2:30 p.m. Friday.
Carlson was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Wakeham, his nephew, said he flew nearly every week and had doubts pilot error contributed to the crash.
Carlson worked as a managing director at Capital Edge Consulting in Reston, Virginia. Willems also worked at the government consulting firm, and was engaged to marry Carlson’s niece.
Erick Carlson was Terry Carlson’s only son and was close friends with Willems.
“They all contributed in every which way they could, be it friends, charity, whatever way they could to help,” Wakeham said.
Carlson suffered burns on 93 percent of his body, said his cousin, and was airlifted to the hospital where he later died.
Wakeham said Carlson’s passions were flying, snowboarding and fly fishing.
“His other passion was his girlfriend. She’s a great girl,” he said.
Wakeham set up a fundraising page for his cousin, which he intended to use to raise money for medical expenses. Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/grembaq4.
“If you knew my cousin Erick, you would know one of the nicest, sweetest, most caring and loyal person you know,” he wrote on the page. “He’s always looking out for others and doing whatever he can to help others.”