Pilot's last act was to pray for family after ultralight crash

10:07 AM EDT on Wednesday, October 19, 2005

By REBECCA LINDSTROM / 6NEWS

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Allan Eich.

Near Lancaster, SC -- A pilot prayed for his family with the men who found him after his ultralight plane crashed Wednesday, knocking out power to part of Lancaster County.

Investigators are trying to figure out what went wrong after that Fort Mill pilot lost his life in the crash.

When the power went out around 4 p.m. Tuesday folks in Lancaster County knew something was wrong. As Duke Power investigated they found several lines torn down and an ultralight on the ground. The power outage was solved, but the reason for the crash is still a mystery.

“He’d go up, spin a bit, come back down, cut across the trees, circle around,” said one observer, Anthony White.

White said he sees ultralights all the time in Lancaster County and he said he could tell the pilot was having fun.

“He got out to the end of the pasture and we see him go up and we never saw him come back,” he said.

Shortly after that the power went out. Allan Eich had hit the lines.

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Two workers from Duke Power found Eich in his plane after they went to investigate the downed power lines.

“Two men from Duke Power found him, he was still alive,” said Sue Eich, Allan’s wife.

The parachute deployed but Eich was trapped.

“His chest was crushed,” said Sue.

The plane tumbled to the ground.

“And they prayed with him and his last words were to bless his family. And that was very comforting to talk with them because it is good to know somebody was with him, he didn’t die alone,” said Sue.

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Allan Eich had been flying since he was 15. His family said he loved flying and would fly any kind of clane he could.

She said despite the dangers she never worried. She said her husband was a perfectionist who had been flying since he was 15.

“Any kind of plane he could fly, he would fly. He just loved it so much,” said Sue.

Allan Eich died doing something he loved.

“That’s the way to go. Sure enough,” said White.

Allen flew in the Air Force and later for US Airways. The family plans to honor him by setting up a fund to buy glasses and pay medical bills for kids in need. It’s something the Eich’s had discusses before he died.