Akron, Ohio crash kills key figure in White House's secret email system

[Mark in CA]

Michael Connell, who is reported to have set-up the alternate email and communications system for the White House used by Karl Rove and others to avoid U.S. laws, was killed last night when his private Piper Saratoga crash 2.5 miles short on approach to the runway in Akron, Ohio:

Plane Crashes In Stark County - News- msnbc.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28321158/)

While the cause of the crash is still unknown, some believe it is connected to Connell's recent decision to talk about his role in hiding files sought by federal authorities:

at-Largely: One of my sources died in a plane crash last night... (http://tinyurl.com/9xj5m9)

and

Bush Insider Who Planned To Tell All Killed In Plane Crash: Non-Profit Demands Full Federal Investigation - MarketWatch (http://tinyurl.com/8w2n9m)

[AMEandPPL]

Isn't it VERY strange that there are NO comments at all on this one, fifteen hours after being posted ?

By their very nature, fatal light aircraft accidents normally produce lots of opinions on here, and usually pretty quickly too !

Or, am I the one who's missing something here . . . . . . . ? ?

[vanHorck]

we re all worried about the bugs.....

seriously, if anyone has more info on the nature of the crash, weather, probable cause etc please post.

Seems to have happened at the end of a flight so could be a non-vindictive cause

[What Traffic]

Most crashes do occur near the end of a flight, generally.


:}


As far as real rumor and speculation go, I'm not touching this one.

[vanHorck]

some courageous posters on this thread....

Nothing new in the media about it?

[Newforest2]

He was flying a Piper Supercub.

Republican consultant Michael Connell's death in plane crash near Akron-Canton Airport probed - Cleveland.com (http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/summit/1229938371237470.xml&coll=2)

[vanHorck]

So the plane reduced in size from a Saratoga to a PiperCup. Soon there will not have been a plane crash?

[AMEandPPL]

Most crashes do occur near the end of a flight

I really can't believe that I just read that ! Just how many crashes occur in the MIDDLE of a flight ? ? ! !

I realise that it's a serious and sombre topic, so apologies for being flippant, albeit very briefly.

[Mark in CA]

There was this blog post yesterday on the HuffPo:

Rebecca Abrahams: White House Email Trail Grows Cold with Death of Bush IT Expert (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-abrahams/white-house-email-trail-g_b_152965.html)

[Mark in CA]

Transcript of an interview with Mark Crispin Miller, professor of media culture and communication at New York University.

He is the author of several books, including Loser Take All: Election Fraud and the Subversion of Democracy, 2000-2008 and Fooled Again: How the Right Stole the 2004 Election & Why They’ll Steal the Next One Too.

There are also links on the page to watch the interview or listen to it.

Democracy Now! | Republican IT Specialist Dies in Plane Crash (http://www.democracynow.org/2008/12/22/republican_it_specialist_dies_in_plane)

[Pilot DAR]

Isn't it VERY strange that there are NO comments at all on this one, fifteen hours after being posted ?

I read, and thought, and reminded myself that my fear of the CIA outweighed my desire to have my thoughts read!

[arrrbilly]

I am interested in the preliminary NTSB report on the Akron, Ohio private plane crash of Dec 19th, 2008.
I searched their data base of accidents but found nothing. There are reports for events for the day previous and another for the day following but no report for anything on the 19th never mind an accident jn the Akron area. Has anyone found any initial official reports of any kind. I've requested info from the NTSB but i'm not holding my breath for a reply.
Tx for any info.

[aviate1138]

From Avweb.....

Christmas Conspiracy Theories Catch Connell Crash

Michael Connell, 45, an instrument rated private pilot flying since 2006, was also a Republican media consultant subpoenaed for expert testimony by a lawsuit alleging electronic voting fraud in 2004, and that, along with reported threats against him, has brought additional attention to his death last week in a plane crash. Connell was flying alone in a Piper Cherokee Six Turbo Saratoga on approach to Akron-Canton Airport Friday, Dec. 19, when he crashed two miles short of the runway in the front lawn of a vacant house and was killed. The FAA's preliminary report on the accident includes very little additional information (which is not at all unusual) other than weather, which it lists as "192251Z 30011 9 BKN005 OVC 01/M01 A2978." The report suggests very low clouds, near-freezing temperatures and a tight temperature/dewpoint spread. But, in a world of conspiracy theorists, that's just half of the story. Connell was, according to CBS, the chief IT consultant for Karl Rove and reportedly built a Web site that carried now missing e-mails sought by investigators looking into the firing of U.S. Attorneys. Now, after Connell's fatal accident, CBS affiliate WOIO has reported that "an anonymous close friend" warned Connell "at least twice about flying his plane because his plane might be sabotaged," and that Connell himself had "twice in the past two months" canceled flights "because of suspicious problems with his plane."

Connell's work was often highly politically connected. Aside from the connections previously mentioned, Connell had database clients that included the White House, and in 2004 he helped form an advertising firm that administered the Web site for Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. All of that, plus his demise during a time of year when few people watch the news, has led suspicious minds to wander. Connell left behind a wife of 18 years and four children.


Occam's Razor is poised......