THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 1, 1997 TAG: 9702010328
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 47 lines
PENINSULA Plane crashes in Chesapeake Bay; pilot survives
HAMPTON - A pilot trying to land at Langley Air Force Base crashed his private plane Friday in the Chesapeake Bay just short of the base, Air Force officials said.
The 69-year-old pilot was attempting to land the single-engine, two-seat Grumman AA5 around 5 p.m. when it went into the water. He was flying from Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport to Langley
Langley spokesman Kevin Walston said the plane crashed 200 to 300 yards from the marina east of the base. The plane struck nose first in about seven feet of water.
The pilot was pulled from the water by a Langley Air Force base rescue team.
Senior Airman Alan Kratzer, 23, a Langley firefighter, spotted the pilot sitting on the tail of the plane.
Kratzer dived into the water when he saw the plane sink further. He swam about 15 feet to the pilot holding an extra lifejacket.
Kratzer said the pilot hugged him and thanked him when they reached the shore. ``He told me, `I'm alive because of you.' ''
The pilot was taken to a base hospital. Air Force officials did not know the pilot's condition but said he was to be released late last evening. His name was not released.
No other passengers were on board.
NORTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA Va. man to head Citadel
WOODBERRY FOREST - John S. Grinalds didn't want to see women admitted to The Citadel or Virginia Military Institute. He doesn't believe women should serve in combat.
Despite that stand, Grinalds said he believes women can handle The Citadel.
So in June, Grinalds will leave his post as headmaster at the all-boys Woodberry Forest School near Orange to take over at The Citadel.
James E. Jones Jr., president of The Citadel's board of visitors, said the military college selected Grinalds based on his stellar and varied experience - Rhodes scholar, Marine commander, boys' school headmaster and devout Christian.