Boss Survives Plane Crash, Employee Doesn't

The woman who died in plane crash at Lewisville Lake on Thursday was an employee of a company where the pilot was the president.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office today confirmed that 41-year-old Kristin Kolby was killed when a pontoon plane flipped over in the lake at about 4 p.m. yesterday.

A friend watching Kolby’s dog at her North Dallas home said that she was active in sports and was a veteran of the Air Force.

Police said witnesses were able to rescue and revive Ken Gadney, 54, who was at the controls of the plane.

According to friends and co-workers, both people worked at Opti-Sky, a company based at the Addison Airport. The company sells planes and aircraft insurance.  Its website lists Gadney as the company president.

Public records show that Gadney turned 54 on Thursday.

Federal Aviation Administration records show Gadney is the owner of the plane, and an FAA spokesman said there are no blemishes on Gadney’s record as a pilot.

But the landing wheels were down on the pontoon plane in the lake. Wheels would be necessary for take off or landing on land, but experts say it could be dangerous to land a pontoon boat on a lake with the wheels down.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. A spokesman for the agency said the pilot was given an alcohol and drug test, which is routine in a crash investigation.

The spokesman said investigators would interview Gadney when he is well enough. 

He is currently listed in good condition at Parkland Hospital in Dallas.

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