Fatal Truckee plane crash claims lives of Liron and Naomi Petrushka – Remembrance
Identified by authorities as Liron Petrushka, aged 57, and Naomi Petrushka, aged 58, residents of Incline Village, the couple’s identities were confirmed through meticulous DNA analysis.
Before the unfortunate incident, Naomi had served as an adjunct professor within the Economics Department at the University of Nevada, Reno, imparting knowledge to numerous students.
Reports from investigators suggest that the aircraft they were aboard crashed during its descent towards the Truckee Tahoe Airport.
The National Transportation Safety Board is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash and encourages anyone possessing surveillance footage or relevant information to reach out via [email protected]
UPDATE APRIL 1, 2024:
Tragedy strikes as a former University of Nevada professor, Naomi Petrushka, and another individual perish in a small plane mishap near Truckee on Saturday evening.
Naomi, who had previously lectured at UNR during various semesters, including fall 2022 & 2023, and spring 2021 & 2023, was highly regarded within the Economics Department of the College of Business.
Though the Nevada County coroner has yet to officially disclose the victims’ identities, it’s believed that Naomi and her spouse, Liron Petrushka, were among the casualties.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Upwest, an investment firm, mourned the loss of Liron and Naomi Petrushka, highlighting their instrumental role in the company’s growth.
The ill-fated journey commenced from Centennial Airport in south Denver at 4:22 p.m. Mountain Time, with the Daher TBM 700 slated to touch down at Truckee Tahoe Airport approximately three hours and sixteen minutes later, according to FlightAware.com data.
However, tragedy struck around 6:40 p.m. when the single-engine turboprop aircraft veered off course during its final approach, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Initial assessments from the Aviation Safety Network indicate a deviation from the intended approach path to the northeast-to-southwest runway at the airport.
Despite an attempted maneuver to rectify the situation by executing a go-around, the aircraft entered a left-hand stalling spiral, ultimately colliding with a tree in proximity to the Truckee River.
While the Truckee Police Department confirmed the loss of two lives, detailed information about the victims has yet to be disclosed.
Although no residential structures suffered damage, the crash necessitated repairs to nearby railroad tracks, as reported by KCRA-TV.
At the time of the incident, light snowfall persisted with visibility limited to half a mile (0.8 kilometers), although wind conditions remained relatively calm, according to local news sources.
Responding to the scene were personnel from the Truckee Police Department, Truckee Fire Protection District, Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada County Coroner’s Office, and staff from Truckee Tahoe Airport.