Three lost in Rico Aviation crash

A Rico Aviation PC-12 plane crashed near Amarillo, Texas, US shortly after midnight on 29 April. The three crew members, none of whom survived the crash, were named by the air ambulance provider as pilot Robin Shaw and flight nurses Misty Nicholson and Scott Riola.

According to local media, the plane, tail number N933DC, went down on land close to railway tracks near Highway 287. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the incident occurred shortly after the fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft took off from Amarillo International Airport. It had been heading to Clovis, New Mexico, according to reports.

Rico Aviation issued a statement on Facebook: “Rico Aviation regrets to confirm the loss of three crew members last night. We are devastated by this tragedy and are mourning the loss of our team members. The families have been notified and they are in our hearts and prayers. We appreciate prayers for our fallen teammates and their families.” In a later post, the firm said: “The Rico family will always remember the impact made by these three wonderful people lost this past week. Pilot Robin Shaw, flight nurse Misty Nicholson, and flight nurse Scott Riola left an indelible mark in our hearts and will be truly missed.”

Both the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are investigating the incident. The weather in the area at the time of the crash has been described as ‘severe’, however it is not yet known if this was a causal factor.