SALT LAKE CITY, June 27 (UPI) -- A pilot died when his plane, towing a banner promoting a minor league baseball team, crashed shortly after takeoff from a regional Utah airport, officials say.
The tow plane, piloted by Quinn Michael Falk, 34, of Cottonwood Heights, took off about 5 p.m. Saturday from South Valley Regional Airport, made a circuit around the airport and hooked onto a banner advertising the Salt Lake Bees, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Sunday.
West Jordan Police Department Capt. Dan Gallagher said the aircraft began to climb but lost power.
Falk apparently released the banner but the plane could not climb and dove into the ground, bursting into flames, the newspaper said.
"We believe he died on impact," Gallagher said.
Ken Heidorn, owner of Aerial Ads, which owned and operated the plane, said Falk was a "very good" pilot with hundreds of flying hours, the Tribune reported.
