Victims of Fairview plane crash identified

Published 11:01 am Friday, September 6, 2024

The victims of a plane crash in Fairview: a 75-year-old resident of the residential neighborhood, 73-year-old pilot and 79-year-old flight instructor: have been identified following next of kin notifications from the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Barbara J. MacDonald was in her townhome in Fairview Terrace, 21800 block of Northeast Heartwood Circle, off Sandy Boulevard, when a small fixed wing multi-engine Cessna aircraft crashed into the row of homes. The plane was piloted by Michael C. Busher of Beavercreek, with passenger Jacqueline K. Whitford of Glendale, Arizona.

All three died upon impact at 10:20 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31. The adjacent townhomes, which were completely lost in the crash and subsequent fires, were unoccupied at the time.

The investigation into what caused the plane to go down is ongoing, led by the National Transportation Safety Board.

So far what we know:

• The Cessna 421C took off from runway 25 at the Troutdale Airport.
• It was reported as a maintenance flight.
• Almost immediately the pilot radioed to ground control about difficulty controlling the aircraft.
• A nearby helicopter witnessed the plane plummet into Fairview Terrace.

Further answers, like what issues the plane was having in the air, will be determined through an 18-month investigation.

“What those issues were we will find out,” said Investigator Michael Hicks. “We are going to do our work diligently and thoroughly.”

Meanwhile three GoFundMe campaigns have been set up by people displaced from the plane crash:

Tom and Judy: tinyurl.com/4pwz4nws

Survived the crash with only the clothing on their backs. Phones and computers, family photos and heirlooms, possessions and furniture have all been lost.

Hailey and Jodi: tinyurl.com/46akmbh9

Are staying with friends and house hopping with two cats and two dogs. Repairs will take months.

Kim and Morgan: tinyurl.com/yfmxwptv

The loss of their home has been an extra shock in the wake of the recent death of Kim’s mother. One of their three cats is recovering from burns caused by the fires.