Crash claims mother
Helicopter flight was woman's 1st
Michael Ferraresi
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 24, 2006 12:00 AM
SCOTTSDALE - Helicopters were about to become Saundra Daley's latest passion. But her first flight was her last.
The 43-year-old single mother of one was killed during her first lesson with Scottsdale-based All Out Aerial after her instructor lost control of their Robinson R-22 and crashed between two homes.
The helicopter pilot, Carl William Smith, was also killed in Wednesday's crash-landing on East Lariat Lane in a north Scottsdale neighborhood near Pima and Jomax roads. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. advertisement
Daley, of Phoenix, was a longtime flight attendant with America West Airlines and a volunteer crisis responder with the Tempe Fire Department, friends said.
Her friends described her as someone always looking for an exciting challenge.
"Sandi was the most adventuresome woman you'd ever meet," said Bronwyn Paes, a friend of Daley's.
"We said we would have to rent a stadium because she touched so many lives," Paes said.
Daley's daughter turns 14 this week, her friends said.
Smith, 39, of Mesa, reportedly sent a mayday message that was received at Scottsdale Airport, according to an official with the Federal Aviation Administration.
FAA officials did not respond Thursday to requests for Smith's flight records. Smith's family could not be reached for comment and All Out Aerial staff declined to comment.
Helicopter flight was woman's 1st
Michael Ferraresi
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 24, 2006 12:00 AM
SCOTTSDALE - Helicopters were about to become Saundra Daley's latest passion. But her first flight was her last.
The 43-year-old single mother of one was killed during her first lesson with Scottsdale-based All Out Aerial after her instructor lost control of their Robinson R-22 and crashed between two homes.
The helicopter pilot, Carl William Smith, was also killed in Wednesday's crash-landing on East Lariat Lane in a north Scottsdale neighborhood near Pima and Jomax roads. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. advertisement
Daley, of Phoenix, was a longtime flight attendant with America West Airlines and a volunteer crisis responder with the Tempe Fire Department, friends said.
Her friends described her as someone always looking for an exciting challenge.
"Sandi was the most adventuresome woman you'd ever meet," said Bronwyn Paes, a friend of Daley's.
"We said we would have to rent a stadium because she touched so many lives," Paes said.
Daley's daughter turns 14 this week, her friends said.
Smith, 39, of Mesa, reportedly sent a mayday message that was received at Scottsdale Airport, according to an official with the Federal Aviation Administration.
FAA officials did not respond Thursday to requests for Smith's flight records. Smith's family could not be reached for comment and All Out Aerial staff declined to comment.
