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12A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016 Plane: NTSB’s preliminary report expected in a week or two Continued from Page 1A ‘I tell you ... it causes you to think about what’s important in life to you.’ Divers with the Sheriff’s 2I¿FH UHWULHYHG 0F.LEELQ¶V body from the cockpit that day but couldn’t remove Mustain from the passenger seat until Monday. Raised from the river Raising the plane was a bit more complicated. “There’s chunks the size of quarters down there,” Sgt. Matt Phillips, of the Clatsop &RXQW\ 6KHULII¶V 2I¿FH VDLG before the operation. Using a diver from Cas- cade Dive Co., a crane team from Bergerson Construction hoisted the plane parts from the river bed and onto a barge. Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s 2I¿FHPDULQHSDWUROZRUNLQJ with U.S. Coast Guard person- nel, created a 500-yard secu- rity zone around the operation. Afterward, the plane sat on a trailer outside the Holiday Inn Express on Marine Drive. It is scheduled to be trucked on Wednesday to an AvTech Services airplane hangar in Auburn, Washington. The National Transporta- tion Safety Board, which has launched an investigation of the crash, will document the plane — “the systems, the ÀLJKWFRQWUROPDNLQJVXUHWKDW they have the entire aircraft, and seeing if there’s any signs of any sort of pre-crash failure Sgt. Matt Phillips Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office to contacting the family, to information gathering — is by necessity a mechanical and mission-oriented one, but ritu- als like that can add meaning to the aftermath, comforting both the bereaved and the law HQIRUFHPHQWRI¿FHUVLQYROYHG “It reminds you of the pur- pose of your work,” Phillips said. A 14-year veteran with the 6KHULII¶V 2I¿FH 3KLOOLSV ZDV present when McKibbin and Mustain were brought to the surface. In such moments, pure procedure takes over — Photos by Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian the need to get the job done. Crews inspect plane debris onboard a barge on Tuesday. %XW HYHQ D VHDVRQHG RI¿- cer, a regular witness to human suffering, can only compart- that could have played a role in ing his communications with played no role, and then we sort The aftermath of narrow down the focus.” the accident,” Peter Knudson, DLUWUDI¿FFRQWUROOHUV Among the items recovered mentalize the experience for In one to two weeks, the from the river bed was Mus- so long. The Federal Aviation a spokesman, said. In addition, the agency will Administration, a party to the National Transportation Safety tain’s purse, which Sheriff’s “I tell you ... it causes you investigate McKibbin’s back- investigation, has said that no Board will produce a prelimi- 2I¿FH'HSXW\-XVWLQ'LPPLFN to think about what’s import- nary report laying out the facts returned to her family. JURXQG ² ÀLJKW H[SHULHQFH ÀLJKWSODQZDV¿OHG ant in life to you,” he said. “We start with, really, every of the incident. The entire inves- licensing and ratings, medi- The whole process of clean- “There’s always a point of cal history — and the circum- possibility,” Knudson said. “We tigation to determine the proba- ing up after a tragedy — from UHÀHFWLRQRQFH\RXJHWHYHU\- VWDQFHV RI WKH ÀLJKW LQFOXG- UXOHWKLQJVRXWDVZH¿QGWKH\ ble cause could take a year. the search for human remains, thing dealt with and put away.” Crews position the barge as they prepare to remove plane debris from the Columbia River on Tuesday. A diver goes into the river near a bouy marking the loca- tion of the plane during a recovery mission on Tuesday. Crews remove plane debris from the Columbia River on Tuesday. See more photos online at www.dailyastorian.com Vigil: McKibbin’s ‘big personality was like a 1,000-watt spotlight’ and Evergreen Habitat for Humanity. “He had an unfailingly, at Pearson Field to honor McKibbin and show love aggressively, relentlessly posi- and support for his widow, tive attitude about everything,” their daughters and the whole state Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La extended family. A gentle rain Center, told the crowd Saturday. started to fall toward the end And when McKibbin would say, of the 45-minute vigil, but “Kiddo, it’s time for a meeting,” that didn’t stop folks from or “Kiddo, we’ll get it done,” lighting candles and holding Rivers knew he meant business. Kelly Love, a fellow former them aloft. McKibbin, 69, and passen- CEO of the Chamber of Com- ger Irene Mustain, 64, died last merce, said McKibbin called her week while on a mission to scat- “kiddo,” too. They didn’t always ter the ashes of Mustain’s late agree, she said, but McKib- husband, Terry Mustain, near bin’s “big personality was like a the mouth of the Columbia 1,000-watt spotlight.” For such a vital life force to disappear in River. Terry Mustain was a Viet- the Columbia River really gives nam veteran and Air Force pilot Love pause, she said. “John was one of those spe- who died in 2013. Wednesday would have been his 69th birth- cial, rare people who could reach day; he and Irene had been mar- across divides and disagree- ments to bring people together,” ried for 44 years. McKibbin and Irene Mus- said state Sen. Annette Cleve- WDLQZHUHÀ\LQJLQ0F.LEELQ¶V land, D-Vancouver, who knew North American AT-6A when McKibbin for decades, worked it went down on the river near with him and campaigned for him. “As a trusted and highly Astoria. The AT-6A was built in 1941 respected leader, his desire to and was designed to train mil- serve our community and state itary pilots during World War was limitless.” John Wells, a good friend, II. It had been fully restored by McKibbin and his friend laughed that he “spent a lot of and fellow pilot George Welsh, timing sitting behind John in air- and was frequently on display planes.” Their friendship grew at Pearson. McKibbin was an after the McKibbins hosted a experienced private pilot. The welcome-home party for Wells ZHDWKHU IRU À\LQJ RQ :HGQHV- when he was returning from day was good, and the rea- military service in the early son for the crash is still being 1970s. They didn’t know him, Wells said, but he was a friend investigated. of a friend. That was enough for them. ‘Kiddo’ “He was an incredible indi- McKibbin was a popu- lar person with a long résumé vidual,” Wells said. “We were in public service in southwest supposed to meet again next Washington. He taught con- Wednesday.” Neighborhood activist Brid- temporary world problems at Columbia River High School get Schwarz, longtime orga- and was active in Democratic nizer of the Fairgrounds Neigh- politics before winning a 49th borhood Association, said Legislative District seat in she admired the way McKib- 1974. After serving two terms bin “always included people. in the House, he was elected He was committed to the grass county commissioner in 1978, roots, and I guess that’s what I receiving nearly 71 percent was. I’m like, ‘I mattered to this of the vote. He left elected guy?’ ” Ron Arp, a local busi- RI¿FHLQWRZRUNLQUHDO estate and development, and nessman, said McKibbin was also served in numerous vol- keenly interested in replac- unteer and leadership capac- ing the Interstate 5 Bridge and ities for local civic organiza- growing aviation opportunities tions, including the Greater and education at nearby Pear- Vancouver Chamber of Com- son Field. “He wanted people merce, Leadership Clark to be able to land here and live County, Identity Clark County here,” Arp said. Continued from Page 1A ‘John was one of those special, rare people who could reach across divides and disagreements to bring people together.’ Sen. Annette Cleveland D-Vancouver, Wash. In the time to come, Arp John playing wing man.” DGGHGLI0F.LEELQ¶VIULHQGV¿QG themselves feeling “that nudge to New world get involved and make the com- McKibbin was married to munity better — that’s probably Nancy McKibbin for more than 40 years. “I am so uplifted today” by the crowd and its kind words about her late husband, Nancy said. Some of the amazing things they said about him were things she hadn’t known, she said. What she does know: “He wasn’t ready to go,” she said. They had many plans for the future, she said. The couple had two daugh- ters and two grandchildren — including Charlotte, who had KHU¿UVWELUWKGD\RQ6DWXUGD\ Nancy McKibbin introduced her to the crowd and said: “This is my new world.” Consult a PROFESSIONAL does Q: When Microsoft support for Vista end? LEO FINZI We match all sale prices at Best Buy, Costco, Staples, etc. Why shop anywhere else? 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