Pilot killed in 2-plane crash was Voorhees man

The pilot who parachuted from a mid-air collision over Hammonton on Saturday remained in critical condition this morning while the family of the other pilot mourned the death of their loved one.

The deceased pilot, known as a dedicated family man with a passion for flying, was identified by friends as David Mitchell, 71, of Voorhees.

Authorities said they have made a tentative identification based on interviews with family and friends, but needed to confirm the identity using dental records. A final determination is likely to come today, according to the Atlantic County medical examiner's office.

The cause of the crash, involving two single-engine planes, remains under federal investigation.

Witnesses said on Saturday they saw Mitchell's Lancair IV-P clip a Yakovlev Yak-55M at about 1:30 p.m. at a height of about 2,800 feet near Hammonton Municipal Airport.

A single parachute opened from the Yak-55M, and, after walking out of the woods, Kirill Barsukov, believed to be in his 30s, of Jersey City, was taken to Cooper University Hospital.

Mitchell, friends said, likely died on impact when the two planes collided and disintegrated, scattering debris across more than a quarter-mile swath of woods and farms.

A man who identified himself as a close friend to Mitchell told an Inquirer reporter on Saturday that Mitchell was "passionate and experienced" flier who often flew with his wife. He enjoyed spending time with his two sons, a daughter and grandchildren. He was also an avid golfer, his friends recalled as they described a kind and gentle man who owned a food-processing plant.

Barsukov was described as a seasoned acrobatic flier and skydiver in his 30s. His friends spotted his plane in the sky on Saturday, a clear day that was perfect for flying.

Although both planes were in or near an air space reserved for pilots to practice acrobatic maneuvers, it was unclear whether Barsukov had been doing that at the time of the crash. Others said Mitchell was not an acrobat, and it appeared the two planes simply accidentally collided.