Tribute set for plane-crash victims

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November 19, 2009

By DENISE A. RAYMO The Press Republican Fri Nov 20, 2009, 12:37 AM EST

MALONE — Pilots and friends who knew Dan Wills and Ron Rouselle are gathering Sunday at the Malone-Dufort Airport to remember and honor them.

The men were killed Sunday when the airplane they were flying crashed on Santanoni Mountain in the Town of Newcomb about eight miles south of Lake Placid.

Their bodies were recovered from the wreckage on Tuesday.

Wills, 48, of North Bangor was a member of the local band Slab City and was the certified-flight instructor at the Malone airport.

Rouselle, 66, of Bombay was an Alcoa retiree who owned a plane and was about to begin taking flying lessons from Wills.

The pair were returning to Malone from Saratoga when the crash occurred.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating.

Funeral services for Wills will be private, and services for Rouselle are tentatively planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Church in Fort Covington, followed by a reception arranged by his family.

Town of Malone officials held a moment of silence for the men Wednesday night. Hundreds of people are expected to converge on the airport Sunday to pay tribute to them, said Larry Kelley, who is organizing the event.

"All the pilots in the area will be coming. We're going to have people talking and telling stories. Everybody's got a Dan story."

Members of Rouselle's and Wills's families have been invited, and refreshments will be served.

Kelley said there will be photograph montages and other displays, and 12 to 15 people have already expressed interest in speaking that day.

"I'm sure there will be more, so we'll go around the room," he said.

Anyone wishing to make memorial donations is encouraged to do so because the Malone Pilots Association is working to establish a flight-scholarship program for those who share the passion for flight.

Contributions may be sent to the association in care of the Malone Dufort Airport, 27 Airport Road, Malone, NY, 12953.

E-mail Denise A. Raymo at: draymo@pressrepublican.com