WEST JORDAN — A fourth person has died as result of a plane crashing into a house in West Jordan over the weekend.
Mary Quintana, 72, who had been hospitalized in critical condition with third-degree burns over half of her body, has passed away, a family member confirmed Monday.
Quintana was sitting on the outside deck of her home on Saturday when a Piper PA-32 crashed into the backyard at 3847 Piccadilly Circle (8710 South), setting Quintana’s house on fire.
“The whole thing just exploded,” said Cindy Waldron, Quintana’s neighbor, who rushed to the fiery scene Saturday and helped pull Quintana from the wreckage.
On Monday Quintana’s friends and family, who had been holding onto hope that she would pull through, remembered her as a loving friend with a “great personality.”
“She was a good friend and a good neighbor, well loved and fun to be with,” said Waldron.
Margie Sanchez, whose friendship with Quintana dates back to when they were both just 6 years old, described the situation as a “total nightmare.”
“She was my sister, we were just like spiritual sisters,” she said. “I’m going to miss her terribly.”
Flowers, stuffed animals and balloons lined the fence outside of the 72-year-old’s house Monday as community members paid respects to her and the other three victims.
The pilot, Lee Wyckoff, 43, his 9-month-old daughter Coral Wyckoff, and Milda Shibonis, 36, were also killed. Two of the plane’s other three passengers, the pilot’s wife, Rebecca Wyckoff, 36, and Cody Mitchell, 2, were in critical condition Sunday. Cody, Wyckoff’s son, suffered burns to his legs and arms, police said.
Amazingly, Veda Sheperd, 12, who is Shibonis’ daughter, walked away from the crash. She was later treated at a local hospital and was released the same day.
The plane took off from South Valley Regional Airport in West Jordan and was headed to Page, Arizona, said Allen Kenitzer, FAA spokesman. The FAA, which is investigating the crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board, has not yet released information about what caused it.
According to Flightaware.com, the plane reached a speed of 198 mph at 4,500 feet, but just 23 seconds later the speed dropped 113 mph. A preliminary report is expected in the coming weeks.
Contributing: Dan Rascon