Man killed in fiery Kentucky jet crash told daughter of trouble midair

A 70-year-old Wisconsin man was killed in a fiery crash on Sunday when his military-style jet plunged into a field in Mayfield, Kentucky, shortly after takeoff. He had been flying cross-country alongside his daughter.

The pilot was identified as James Alan Michaels of Dousman, Wisconsin. His 35-year-old daughter, Tonie Michaels, was flying a separate L-39 Albatros jet. The pair were flying back to Wisconsin from Mississippi.

The Graves County Sheriff's Office said the father and daughter had been at an air show and stopped at an airport in Mayfield to get fuel. After takeoff, they were gaining altitude when Michaels said he was having issues.

The sheriff's office said he was going to turn and go back to the airport. Soon after, he radioed that he was not going to be able to land. Authorities believe he tried to land in an open field.

At around 2:08 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, the plane went down just off Spence Chapel Road near Interstate 69 and Ky. 131. The sheriff's office said it hit a ditch in that field, and the ditch seems to be the cause of the main impact. The plane caught fire and rolled.

The pilot was the only person on the plane. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The daughter soon arrived at the scene, the sheriff's office said. She turned around and landed back at the airport, then started making phone calls.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday's crash occurred around 2:25 p.m. local time, though local authorities recorded the crash time slightly earlier, at 2:08 p.m.

The National Transportation Safety Board said its investigators will lead the probe into the crash. An investigator was expected to arrive at the scene Monday evening to document the site and examine the aircraft before it is recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation.

The NTSB said its investigations involve three primary areas: the pilot, the aircraft, and the operating environment. Investigators will gather flight track data, air traffic control communications, aircraft maintenance records, witness statements and weather conditions.

They will also review the pilot's license, ratings, recency of flight experience and 72-hour background check to determine if any issues could have affected his ability to safely operate the flight. During the on-scene phase, the NTSB does not determine or speculate about the cause of the accident.

A probable cause of the crash along with any contributing factors will be detailed in the final report, which is expected in 12 to 24 months, the NTSB said.

Sixteen years prior to this accident, the same father and daughter duo survived a small-plane crash in a remote area of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. On July 8, 2010, James Michaels was piloting a single-engine aircraft with his daughter as his passenger when they encountered a severe downdraft.

The pair crash-landed in heavy timber in Forest Canyon while flying toward Aspen. Both walked away from the 2010 crash with minor cuts and scratches. They used branches and the plane's sheared-off wreckage to build a shelter as they were stranded overnight during evening storms.