Pilot killed in Grass Valley crash served at Travis AFB
Ron Hooper, 30, was an airman at the military base near Fairfield.
(Courtesy photo/Graphic by Solano News Update)
A 30-year-old pilot who was killed in a plane crash earlier this week served as an airman at Travis Air Force Base, a military official said in a social media post on Friday.
Ron Hooper of Rancho Cordova was flying a fixed-wing aircraft that crashed in a remote area of Grass Valley on Tuesday. He suffered extensive injuries and died at a nearby hospital, law enforcement officials said.
In a social media post, Colonel Lee Merkle of the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis, said Hooper was off-duty at the time of the crash.
“[Hooper] was a highly respected and valued Air Force officer, wingman, and friend,” Merkle wrote. “I ask that you honor his memory by respecting the privacy of his family while they mourn this tremendous loss.”
Merkle said information about a memorial service would be made available to airmen in the future. The commander said military chaplains were available to those who needed counseling services.
Hooper reported problems with the plane’s engine before it crashed about a mile away from the Nevada County Airport. He was the only person on board at the time of the incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation into the crash.
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