By Monica Pryts
GREENE TOWNSHIP — Hermitage pilot Daniel R. Lloyd was a regular at the Greenville Municipal Airport, and the 37-year-old family man will be missed.
“He enjoyed the airport environment, he liked the guys that were there and they enjoyed him,” said Rod Paul, airport manager.
Lloyd was killed around 8:30 a.m. Friday when his experimental plane crashed on state Route 58 in Greene Township, about a mile from the airport. A day after the crash, Paul said Saturday Lloyd’s death is still a shock for everyone who knew him.
“It’s one of those things that happen and you don’t know why,” he said.
Paul is sure Lloyd’s day started out like any other time he prepared for a flight. He believes Lloyd was alone at the airport when he took off and had plans for a short flight around the area.
“I’m sure he was enjoying the scenery,” Paul said, adding Friday was a beautiful day.
According to witnesses, Lloyd’s plane seemed to be flying low. Jim Owens, who lives near where the plane crashed, said the motor didn’t sound right. The plane hit a cornfield then skidded onto the road and caught fire.
“I have no idea in the world,” Paul said when asked if he knew what could have gone wrong with Lloyd’s flight.
A mechanic who arrived at the airport after Lloyd left called Paul with news of the crash.
“I drove over as quickly as I could,” said Paul, who was in Grove City at the time.
The mood at the scene of the crash was a sad one, especially when Lloyd’s death was confirmed, he said. Paul helped firefighters and Federal Aviation Administration investigators recover as much of the plane as possible, all the while thinking about Lloyd’s wife and two young children.
“It’s extreme sadness for his family and everybody involved. When you lose somebody, it’s a surprise,” he said.
Paul spoke with Lloyd’s family to offer his sympathies and he said he can’t even begin to imagine what they’re feeling.
“Our condolences go out to the family and it’s a sad day,” he said.
Lloyd, a Colorado native, was a dedicated and professional pilot who spent about two years building the single-engine, RV-10 aircraft, which is now in possession of the FAA, Paul said.
Paul said he believes Lloyd had been flying for about four years and he worked hard on that plane, which he stored at the airport. Lloyd was one of the younger men who frequented the airport, especially during the lunch hour.
“He’s going to be missed at lunch,” Paul said.
Lloyd, who worked in the information technoogy department at Werner Co. in Sugar Grove Township, also brought his family to the airport for events and the occasional flight, he said.
Paul and others at the airport are trying to get things back to normal, but they’ll always remember Lloyd.
“Dan was a very friendly guy. He was well-liked,” Paul said.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash and a board spokesman said Friday a preliminary report is expected to be released in 10 days.
A message left Saturday at what was believed to be Lloyd’s home telephone number was not returned.
