Two couples died in crash

Two Northern California couples celebrating their anniversaries together died in the single-engine plane crash that sparked a wildfire on Mount Charleston, family members of the victims confirmed Sunday.

Jason Nunn said his brother, Erik Nunn, 37, and his brother's wife, Tanya Nunn, 26, from Contra Costa County in California died in the Saturday crash.

Erik Nunn, a two-year pilot, was flying the Piper Cherokee, which went down about 2:45 p.m. in Kyle Canyon. The aircraft swooped to a low altitude and clipped several power lines along Echo Road.

David Wilson said his brother Craig Wilson and his brother's wife, Michele Wilson, also from Contra Costa County, were on the plane. Wilson said both were in their late 30s.

The fire, a 12-acre blaze that caused some residents to evacuate, was about 85 percent contained Sunday evening.

Bureau of Land Management officials said it's expected to be under complete control today.

An emotional Jason Nunn said his brother was chief financial officer for a construction company that owned the aircraft. Erik Nunn was running for supervisor in Contra Costa County. David Wilson said his brother was an officer with the Bay Area Rapid Transit police.

The Nunns were the parents of four children. The Wilsons were the parents of three children.

"After God, his family, his wife and his four kids were everything to him," Jason Nunn said of his brother, who was a pastor at his California church.

David Wilson said his brother and sister-in-law were exceptional people who loved their families. He described his sister-in-law as "fabulous and gregarious."

The victims of the crash were taken off the mountain Sunday afternoon by officials with the Clark County coroner's office.

At least one investigator with the Federal Aviation Administration went to the Mount Charleston community, 40 miles northwest of Las Vegas, to examine the crash site, said Ian Gregor, a spokesman with the agency.

Family members of the crash victims did not know why the plane went down.

Witnesses saw the plane flying extremely low before it went down. The plane was leaving the North Las Vegas Airport for Contra Costa County's Byron Airport.

Yolanda Harney, a Kyle Canyon resident, was having lunch with her boyfriend when she saw the shadow of the plane pass over Saturday afternoon. Moments later, she heard the crash.

"It was unbelievable," Harney said. "It was so close. It went right over the house."

Robbie McAboy, a spokeswoman with the Bureau of Land Management, said residents of 38 homes were asked to evacuate voluntarily after the crash started the fire.

They were allowed to return to their homes about 6 p.m. Sunday.

McAboy said power lines were repaired Saturday night.

She said the accident could have been far worse because the plane narrowly avoided hitting homes. The wind also worked in favor of firefighters, blowing the flames away from homes.

"We were very fortunate in the way this unfortunate incident occurred," McAboy said.

Fire officials agreed. They said the wildfire was contained because the plane crashed in an area that was recently ravaged by an avalanche, where trees had intertwined and bent.

Had the tops of standing trees caught fire, the blaze could have spread at an uncontrollable pace, they said.

But the crash site made fighting the fire more difficult. Firefighters had trouble walking where the crash occurred.

During the peak of the blaze Sunday morning, 200 firefighters from federal, city and county agencies fought the wildfire. Two helicopters doused hot spots with water. Two 20-person crews monitored the fire Sunday night and early this morning.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas @reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.