Taryn Ashley Robinson - Second Lieutenant, United States Air Force

23 September 2005:
AIA Lieutenant critically injured in plane crash

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – Air Education and Training Command officials announced today that an Air Force officer, Second Lieutenant Taryn Robinson, assigned to the Air Intelligence Agency’s 346th Test Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was critically injured in a plane crash 40 miles southeast of San Antonio September 21, 2005.

Lieutenant Robinson was transported via AirLife helicopter to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, where she remains in critical condition.

The lieutenant was participating in the Air Force Introductory Flight Training Program through a civilian flying school. The civilian flight instructor onboard the aircraft was killed.

The National Transportation Safety Board has began their investigation and a board of Air Force officers will also investigate.

Plane crash claims pilot’s life
Wednesday, September 28, 2005

DPS Trooper Clint Walker walks among the wreckage of the single engine plane off of Hwy 476,
between Pleasanton and Poteet. The pilot, James L. Weaver , 64, was killed. Taryn Robinson, 22, a U.S.
Air Force flight student is in critical condition. The splintered poles where the power line was
clipped are in the background. A brush fire threatened homes in the area, but was quickly contained
by the Pleasanton Volunteer Firemen.

The calmness in Pleasanton was shattered Wednesday morning, September 21, 2005, when a small plane crashed in a field on the northwest edge of the city.

The crash of the small single-engine plane occurred just after 11:30 a.m. when it struck a large electrical junction line, rolled over, landed upside down and burst into flames.

The leased aircraft was used by the Stinson School of Flying, which operates from Stinson Field in south San Antonio. On board were the school’s flight instructor, James L. Weaver, age 64, and student Taryn Robinson, age 22.

Robinson is a U.S. Air Force flight student being trained for her commercial license under military contract in the school’s 60-flight-hour course.

Burning, the injured Robinson managed to crawl out of the plane before collapsing.

“The lights flickered,” recalls Pleasanton ISD Purchasing Director Frank Dodson, who was working across Hwy. 476 and waiting for his two sons to join him for lunch. The plans were being interrupted. Frank Dodson’s sons, Trey Dodson, age 29, and Kenneth Dodson, age 23, were driving nearby when they noticed the flames and smoke from the burning plane. About the same time, Lytle Propane employee Steve Sanders was driving along the same stretch of highway and noticed the crash.

The men stopped their vehicles and all three courageously rushed into the field to the crash site. Steve and Trey noticed Taryn on the ground next to the burning plane and pulled her to safety. Her clothing had already burned off her body, so Steve removed his shirt and covered her. Kenneth, a recent Texas A&M graduate, and brother Trey, a Houston firefighter visiting his parents, tried to determine if anyone else was in the plane. There was. Trey began running back to his vehicle because he always carries his firefighting gear. However, before he could make the distance, the plane exploded into even bigger flames. The men knew it was too late to extract Weaver from the burning wreckage.

Law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, workers in the area and passing motorists quickly converged on the area. EMS began emergency care for Taryn and prepared her for transport by Critical Air helicopter flying out of Kerrville. The helicopter took the young flight student to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

DPS Trooper Lucian Ebrom, who began the investigation, said this week Taryn suffered burns over 80% of her body. In the burn areas, 60% was 3rd degree and 40% was 2nd degree burns.

The trooper said he has spoken with Taryn’s mother, who reported her daughter is in a medically induced coma to allow the burns to heal before surgeons can work on her many broken bones – including a broken neck.

Everyone is stunned that she was able to crawl out of the crashed plane. The mother also related that family and the BAMC medical staff are even more stunned on how well she is responding to treatment. Her condition has been upgraded to critical but stable (even though she is in a induced coma).

Trooper Ebrom said Monday that he was assisted at the scene by the Trooper Clint Walker; the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Department; Pleasanton Police Department; Volunteer Fire Departments from Pleasanton, Poteet and Jourdanton; Critical Air and Atascosa County EMS.

The crash site was located on property owned by Jeff Phillips. Approximately four acres of the field were destroyed by the fire, according to Trooper Walker.

DPS contacted the John Bures of the FAA, who is conducting part of the investigation. Bures said he is currently making the preliminary investigation. Some of the work will be a complete tear-down of the aircraft to determine if the mechanical parts were working correctly and the “airworthiness” of the plane. He will also research information to learn if all FAA procedures were observed.

At the same time, Bures said, the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash to determine the probable cause.

NTSB Identification: DFW05FA244
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, September 21, 2005 in Pleasanton, TX
Aircraft: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-C1, registration: N63PA
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On September 21, 2005, at 1132 central daylight time (CDT), a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-C1, single-engine airplane, N63PA, was destroyed upon impact with terrain following an in-flight collision with power lines while maneuvering near Pleasanton, Texas. The certified flight instructor (CFI) was fatally injured, and the non-certificated student receiving instruction sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to Flying Monsters Inc., Plano, Texas, and operated by Check-Six Aviation, San Antonio, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local flight originated from Stinson Municipal Airport (SSF), near San Antonio, Texas, approximately 1045.

The student, a military officer, was enrolled in a government undergraduate pilot training (UPT) flight program contracted by the operator to provide initial training for the student to receive an FAA private pilots certificate. This was the student’s second flight, after receiving 1.2 hours flight time on the first flight.

A representative from American Electric Power (AEP) reported an electric power interruption at 1132, before arriving on scene to repair two severed lines. There were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident. The airplane came to rest 123 feet east of the power lines inverted on a heading of 332 degrees. There was a post impact fire that destroyed the airplane, and no additional ground scars were noted. The Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates recorded at the accident site using a hand held unit were latitude 28 degrees 59.304 minutes North and longitude 98 degrees 30.352 minutes West, which was approximately 2.2 miles northeast of the Pleasanton Municipal Airport (PEZ).

The CFI held an airline transport pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and multi-engine land ratings, and was issued a second-class medical on September 8, 2005, with the restriction of “holder shall possess glasses for near and intermediate vision.” The pilot reported on his most recent medical application that he had accumulated 5,406-hours of flight time.

At 1153, the automated surface observing system at SSF reported wind calm, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 32 degrees Celsius, dew point 19 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure at 30.07 inches of Mercury.

On September 22, 2005, the wreckage was recovered to Air Salvage of Dallas (ASOD), near Lancaster, Texas, for further examination.

10 January 2006:

Second Lieutenant Taryn A. Robinson, Class of 2005, succumbed January 10, 2006, to complications from injuries incurred September 21, 2005, as the result of an aircraft accident.

A memorial service for has been scheduled for January 13, 2006, at 4:30 pm at Brooke Army Medical Center in the 4th floor auditorium. A memorial service is being planned at USAFA. The date and time are still to be determined. In lieu of flowers or gifts the family asks that donations be made in Taryn’s name to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

Funeral: Interment is planned for Arlington National Cemetery. Date & time are yet to be determined.

Condolences may be sent to her family: Major General and Mrs. David A. Robinson, ’76, 5371 Chieftan Circle, Alexandria, Virginia 22312-2383 and Mr. and Mrs. King L. Fowler, 13153 Loblolly Lane, Clermont, Florida 34711-7162

An announcement from a family friend said ” Dave and Lori Robinson’s little angel Taryn passed away today. Their hearts are broken, but know she is at peace with the Lord now. Taryn fought courageously. She had all her family with her and passed with great elegance and grace. The family understands that while Taryn’s life has finished here on earth, her life has just begun with the Lord and she is still with us in spirit. That you must believe.

Your continued prayers for the family are important as they deal with the loss of their beloved Taryn. As more detail are avail, I’ll pass on such as helping the family, funeral or memorial service. Through it all, I know Dave and Lori have felt a tremendous amount of love and support from all their caring friends. God Bless you all. Joe Rossacci

11 January 2006:
AIR FORCE GRAD DIES FROM PLANE CRASH INJURIES
Second Lieutenant Taryn Robinson Dies From Injuries Received In A Single-Engine Plane Crash

An Air Force Academy Graduate has succumed to injuries she sustained in a plane crash in September.

Second Lieutenant Taryn Robinson had been fighting blood infections and had undergone countless skin grafts since burned in the accident. She died just after noon yesterday.

Robinson’s flight instructor was at the controls when their Diamond single-engine plane clipped a power line. He was killed instantly when the plane went down near San Antonio, Texas.

2nd Lieutenant Robinson would have been 23 years old next month.

13 January 2006
Student pilot dies from crash injuries

An Air Force officer died January 10, 2006, from injuries sustained September 21, 2005, in a plane crash south of Stinson Field, Texas, military officials said.

Second Lieutenant Taryn Robinson was assigned to the Air Intelligence Agency’s 346th Test Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. At the time of the crash, she was in the Introductory Flight Training Program through a civilian flying school.

Robinson fought blood infections and underwent multiple skin grafts, an NBC affiliate in Colorado Springs, Colorado, reported. She would have turned 23 in February, the TV station said.

Robinson’s flight instructor was flying the Diamond single-engine plane when it snagged a power cable, the TV station said. He died instantly.

Gone West: Taryn Robinson
13 January 2006

Air Force Grad Severely Injured In DA-20 Accident

She held on longer than anyone expected… but Aero-News has learned Second Lieutenant Taryn Robinson, the 22-year-old Air Force pilot who was severely burned in a September crash that claimed the life of her flying instructor, succumbed to her injuries Tuesday. She would have been 23 years old next month.

As was reported in Aero-News, Robinson and her civilian instructor were flying near San Antonio, TX on September 21, 2005, when their Diamond DA-20 clipped power lines and impacted the ground, coming to rest inverted in a grass field.

Robinson’s instructor, who worked for Stinson Flying School, is believed to have been pilot-in-command of the two-seat trainer when it went down. He perished at the scene, but a passer-by was able to pull Robinson from the wreckage as it caught fire.

She still suffered third-and-fourth degree burns over 80 percent of her body, as well as several additional injuries. Over the last three-and-a-half months, Robinson had undergone countless skin grafts, and had been fighting a blood infection.

Robinson was the daughter of former Goodfellow AFB commanding officer Loci Robinson, according to the San Angelo Standard Times. She had been assigned to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio when she was injured.

The young lieutenant, a member of the Air Force Academy’s graduating Class of 2005, had been learning to fly as part of the Air Force’s flight training program, according to the Standard Times.

Second Lieutenant Taryn Robinson has gone west, where there is no more pain, and nothing to restrict her pursuit of the thing she loved most — flying. Happy landings, Lieutenant.

Tascosa plane crash claims second life
14 January 2006

A memorial service was held Friday at Brooke Army Medical Hospital for Taryn Robinson, 22, who died there Tuesday from injuries suffered in the September 21, 2005, plane crash in Atascosa County.

Flying instructor James L. Weaver, 64, died at the scene of the crash that occurred when the single engine plane based at Stinson Municipal Airport clipped a power line outside Pleasanton.

Air Force spokesman Dave Smith said Robinson, a native of North Carolina, was a Second Lieutenant stationed at Lackland AFB who was training to be a pilot.

23 January 2006:

Second Lieutenan Taryn A. Robinson, Class of 2005, succumbed January 10, 2006, to complications from injuries incurred September 21, 2005, as the result of an aircraft accident.

A memorial service has been scheduled at the US Air Force Academy on January 30,k 2006, at 4:30 p.m. in the Cadet Protestant Chapel. A memorial service has been scheduled for Jan. 13 at 4:30 p.m. at Brooke Army Medical Center in the 4th floor auditorium.

A graveside funeral service will take place at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, February 17, 2006, at 9 a.m.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to the Intrepid Fallen Heros Fund: Intrepid Fallen Heros Fund, One Intrepid Square, West 46th St and 12th Avenue, New York, New York 10036, (212) 245-0072, www.fallenherosfund.org.

ON THE WINGS OF ANGELS

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we share with you that on the 10th of January 2006 at 1240PM, on a beautiful Texas afternoon, Taryn was lifted on the wings of Angels to Heaven.

She was courageous and brave to the very end, often more concerned about the ones around her than herself. She truly was an extraordinary person.

We will think of her, miss her and love her everyday. It is with some solace, however; that we know Taryn is now safe, whole again and pain free in a place of total peace and freedom.

All four of us, her parents, were able to spend Taryn’s last hours with her. The Staff at the Burn ICU provided us with a time of calm, peace and dignity. We shared our thoughts and love with Taryn and were able to say goodbye to her. She was never alone and we all held her in our arms as she quietly left us. It was a beautiful experience for which we will always be thankful.

We will be eternally grateful to the Doctors, Nurses and Staff of the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center located at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Their care and compassion were obvious in everything they did for Taryn and for all of us. We know that Taryn received the finest medical care available in the world.

In lieu of flowers or gifts we ask that donations be made in Taryn’s name to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

A memorial service will be held on January 13, 2006, at BAMC, fourth floor auditorium at 4:30 PM.

There will be a memorial service at the US Air Force Academy on Monday, January 30, 2006, at 4:30 PM in the Protestant Chapel.

Graveside service and burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, February 17, 2006, at 9:00AM.

If you would like to join us as we honor Taryn’s service to our nation, please be at the Administrative building at Arlington National Cemetery not later than 0830 on the 17th.

Our thanks and love for your tireless support.

Lucy Lee, David, Lori and King

ROBINSON, TARYN ASHLEY
2ND LT US AIR FORCE

DATE OF BIRTH: 02/01/1983
DATE OF DEATH: 01/10/2006
BURIED AT: SECTION 66 SITE 100
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard

Taryn Ashley Robinson – Second Lieutenant, United States Air Force

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