James Richard Ungar, Pilot Killed In California Plane Crash, Was A Doctor On A Mission

TRUCKEE, Calif. -- Officials have identified a 66-year-old pilot killed in a plane crash as a northern California emergency room doctor who was leaving for a humanitarian medical mission in Mexico.

Nevada County coroner's officials say James Richard Ungar of Yreka (wy-REE'-kuh) was killed on impact when his Piper Comanche hit a hangar at the Truckee-Tahoe Airport in Truckee shortly after takeoff Thursday morning.

An Auburn-based nonprofit called Los Medicos Voladores, or The Flying Doctors, says Ungar was a volunteer pilot who flew doctors to Mexico and Central America.

Group spokesman Adrian Fenderson says Ungar had two passengers aboard the single-engine aircraft when he attempted and aborted a takeoff.

Fenderson says Ungar was concerned there wasn't enough lift and told the passengers to leave the plane before he made his ill-fated second takeoff.