Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Jim Weidler lost his life in plane crash at Punta Chivato, Mulege Mexico
Share:
by patgarcia | November 4, 2008 at 09:44 pm
2766 views | 7 Recommendations | 8 comments
Photos
Jim Weidler
10/26/1961 - 11/03/2008
The pilot's correct name was Jim Weidler, the first accident report had it misspelled, and the local newspapers changed it completely, using the name of another pilot Jim Minear who also flew to Punta Chivato and died a few years back of a heart attack. May he rest in peace too.
I wanted to honor the pilot's life by mentioning his name on the title, when the Mexican media was all busy with the tragedy of losing a plane full of the Mexican president's most trusted men. The loss of one life at Punta Chivato is just as important, specially to those who love him.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
November 3rd 2008, 12:45 PM - Shortly after takeoff from Punta Chivato, locals reported that Jim apparently had a problem with his Kingair 200 (N200JL) and performed an emergency procedure to turn back to the runway. Shortly thereafter, the both engines cut off and the plane went down. Jim was killed instantly. Autopsy in Mexico revealed that cause of death was due to massive internal injuries and burning. We may seek some solace in knowing that there was no suffering in his passing.
Here is an accident report I located. They updated the report with Jim's name spelled correctly. Click HERE.
IMPORTANT UPDATE
A friend of Jim Minear who flew with him to Punta Chivato informed me "their" Jim Minear died some time back, puzzled by these news asked me for more information about the pilot's age etc.this took me to search for more information and found this other story where the pilot's name is stated as Jim Weinler who flew the aircraft belonging to Jhon Lyddon.
Workers in a hotel close to the accident stated the pilot of the plane was Jim Weinler.
Trabajadores del hotel informaron que la aeronave se era un avión bimotor tipo King-Air 200, al parecer de doce plazas, color azul con blanco, matrícula N200JL y de quien se sabía era pilotado por Jim Weinler, pero que la nave pertenecía a Jhon Lyd Don, a quien estaban esperando para que identificara tanto al vehículo aéreo como a su tripulante para establecer la identidad del occiso.
Two tragic plane crashes in Mexico, one in Mexico city and the other one took place in my state, Baja California Sur.
A plane crashed in Punta Chivato, Mulege, the pilot, the only one on board lost his life, the plane and the body of Jim Mirear burned to ashes.
Mulegé, Baja California Sur.- Un avión particular se impactó contra tierra en Punta Chivato, Mulegé, el único tripulante, el piloto, perdió la vida y de ello dan cuenta las fotografías del cuerpo calcinado de quien aparentemente en vida llevara el nombre de Jim Minear.
Hasta el momento se desconocen los motivos del accidente. Se trata del avión King Air matrícula N200JL propiedad del señor John Lyddon, residente de Punta Chivato, Mulegé.
I found this videos of Jim Minear flying to Punta Chivato
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 19:04 on November 15th, 2008
What made this story so spooky to us who knew the Jim Minear that flew to Punta Chivato and other parts of Baja back in the 1970s and 80s, was his intelligence, guile and guts. He wouldn't have been beyond faking his own death back in 1989, when he died of heart failure, at age 62 or so. Certain people he had business dealings with really didn't like him, but he was one of my favorite characters. He especially relished cheating dishonest people. Btw, he held a couple of important patents in electronics, although they didn't make him rich for life. May he rest in peace.
As for Jim Weinlar, I wouldn't trust that to be a correct name, as the hotel people spelling of the airplane owner's name is illogical. Regardless, condolences to the family and friends of the pilot. The Beechcraft KingAir is an excellent, reliable, honest airplane and it is extremely unusual for one to crash in that manner.
GB
at 22:27 on November 20th, 2008
Regarding the black-and-white photo of the downed single engine aircraft. That was an archived photo from the newspaper... has nothing to do with this accident.
at 21:53 on November 4th, 2008
Hi, I think we already have a story on this, Why don't u update the previous post with your latest on this story
at 21:58 on November 4th, 2008
Sanjay Jha,
There were two different accidents in the country today, this is a small plane that crashed in the desert, the other one was bigger and crashed in a city.One precious life was lost in this one, and many in the other.
at 22:03 on November 4th, 2008
Ok, I thought probably it is same incident and where a Mexican Minister was killed. The story was reported by Rahul.
at 22:09 on November 4th, 2008
Thanks for letting me know of that confusion, I figured I should add something to make clear that it is not the same accident!
at 06:22 on November 17th, 2008
The one pic of the wreckage looks exactly like a single engine airplane. The King Air is a twin turboprop. The separated engine looks to be about right for a King Air, however. Neither did the King Air 200 originally have winglets at the ends of the wings. They could have been added later, however.
at 23:48 on November 17th, 2008
Yes... that was my brother piloting the aircraft. You may be talking about the initial newspaper report about the accident. That story included an archived photograph of a downed single engine aircraft - completely impertainent to the plane crash. The actual photos of the accident & facts as known to date can be found at www.weidlerfamily.com
- Mark Weidler