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Released by: Sgt. William Bailey – Public Information Officer
Release Date: June 30, 2020
Location: Bend Municipal Airport; 63136 Powell Butte Highway
Deceased: McKeage, Christopher S. Age: 65 Bend, Oregon
Aircraft: 2002 Avia Stroitel AC-5M glider
NARRATIVE:
On June 30, 2020, at approximately 1:25pm, deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a report of a glider crash in the NE corner of the Bend Municipal Airport. Witnesses reported the aircraft caught fire immediately after it crashed.
Deputies arrived and confirmed a power glider had crashed just after take-off from the airport and the sole occupant, Christopher S. McKeage of Bend, was deceased. Bend Fire Department resources quickly extinguished a small brush fire that occurred because of the crash before it could spread to nearby trees.
Deputies spent the afternoon photographing and documenting the scene, contacting witnesses, and collecting nearby video surveillance around the time of the crash. The information collected will be forwarded onto the FAA and NTSB to assist with their investigation.
The crash is still under investigation and cause has not been determined. McKeage’s next of kin has been notified.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Bend Police and Fire Departments and the Deschutes County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Street Crimes, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with six K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves the nearly 190,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 230 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 187 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.
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