Pilot killed in Nevada crash was Oregon fireman

(AP) — One of two pilots killed in a midair collision over the Nevada desert was a longtime Oregon firefighter and paramedic who often flew spotter planes over forest fires in his spare time.

Capt. Thomas R. Weiss of Roseburg was one of the victims in Sunday's crash during an informal fly-in at a dry lake bed about 60 miles southeast of Reno, the Winston-Dillard Fire District confirmed in a statement.

The (Roseburg) News-Review first reported Tuesday that Weiss was a 22-year veteran of the district and served the past 12 years as captain and paramedic. The past three fire seasons, he flew the spotter plane for the Douglas (County) Forest Protective Association.

"This is a tragic loss to the entire central Douglas County Fire Service," District Fire Chief Greg Marlar said in the statement.

"Tom was a professional that gave 110 percent of himself to his profession and the community he served," Marlar said. "I have some sense of comfort knowing that Tom was doing one of the things he loved most."

The single-engine Cessna 170 and an experimental aircraft crashed in midair about 8 a.m. Sunday in Lyon County near Yerington and Wabuska, the Lyon County sheriff's office said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said Tuesday.

The pilots were the planes' only occupants, and no one on the ground was hurt, sheriff's officials said. They said participants on the ground heard a sound a distance away and saw falling debris and smoke, sending them running or driving to the crash site.

"Deputies met with witnesses on scene who stated that two airplanes collided north of the dry lake bed and crashed into the side of a hill," sheriff's Sgt. Ryan Powell said.

Weiss' son, Davis, followed in his footsteps and obtained his pilot's license a few years ago after he turned 16, Marlar said.

The other victim's name hasn't been released.