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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Pilot from Spokane accused of flying while drunk in Nevada crash

This undated Mesquite Detention Center booking photo shows Ryan Raymond Dashiell, 41, of Spokane. Police in Mesquite, Nevada, say Dashiell escaped serious injury in the crash of a twin-engine Cessna 550 aircraft about 7:20 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at Mesquite Municipal Airport. Police say Dashiell was arrested on suspicion of flying while drunk. (AP)
From staff and wire reports

MESQUITE, Nev. – Authorities say a pilot from Spokane was arrested on suspicion of flying while drunk after a private plane crash and fire at an airport in Nevada.

Police say 41-year-old Ryan Raymond Dashiell of Spokane escaped serious injury in the crash of the twin-engine Cessna 550 Wednesday evening at Mesquite Municipal Airport.

Police Sgt. Wyatt Oliver said Dashiell was the only person aboard the aircraft. Firefighters doused flames and Dashiell was treated at a hospital and jailed pending an initial court appearance.

His preliminary bail was automatically set at $2,000 for the DUI charge because it is a gross misdemeanor in Nevada. A City of Mesquite municipal judge will review the case and determine probable cause for formal charges by Saturday night.

Clark County Jail records don’t reflect if Dashiell has an attorney.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the aircraft was traveling from Pasco to Henderson Executive Airport near Las Vegas.

He said the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

Dashiell has been a certified airline transport pilot since at least 2001, according to FAA records.

He was charged with a DUI in Spokane County District Court in 2007, but he was convicted of negligent driving and sentenced to serve 90 days in jail. Further case records were destroyed in 2015.