By Jeremy Pittari, Item Staff Writer
The Picayune Item
POPLARVILLE —
A man visiting the Poplarville area died Sunday in an apparent small airplane accident.
The accident occurred Sunday as 50-year-old Ron Desantis of 3728 West Sunglade Dr., Tucson Ariz., was flying an ultra light airplane in the Poplarville area, said Maj. Donnie Saucier with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department.
Saucier said the investigation showed the accident occurred as Desantis flew too low, clipping a pine tree that caused his plane to crash to the ground. Desantis, who was staying at 38 Haas-Cienda Rd., Poplarville, was transported to the nearby Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home in Poplarville, but was pronounced upon arrival, Saucier said.
The Federal Aviation Administration has taken over the investigation, and while toxicology results are pending, Saucier said it appears alcohol use could be a contributing factor in the accident.
No one else was in the plane at the time and no other injuries were reported on the ground, Saucier said.
