Pilot Dies Trying To Set Speed Record

A veteran pilot trying to break a speed record was killed Monday when his small, experimental plane crashed into an apartment building and playground in Basel, Switzerland, authorities said. Three people on the ground were injured.

The crash occurred shortly after the single-engine plane took off from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, across the border in France, authorities said. It plowed through the attic of an apartment building in northwestern Basel before crashing in flames on the playground.

The pilot was identified as Hans Georg Schmid, a former Swissair pilot who logged more than 16,000 hours of flight experience during three decades at the former national carrier. His body was found in the park, said Klaus Mannhart, spokesman for Basel cantonal police.

Schmid was trying to break a world record for a solo single-engine flight over 4,970 miles, aiming to reach Oshkosh, Wis., in 30 hours. The plane was fueled by 450 gallons of kerosene, airport spokeswoman Sabrina Walter said.

"There was a loud bang," said Silvia Kalman, an adult supervisor taking care of 19 children who were at the playground when the plane crashed. A jungle gym burst into flames, she said. It was unclear if any of the children were among the injured.

Hours later, the playground was still littered with the plane's wreckage.

Schmid designed the plane, called the "Express 2000 ER," and was planning to use it to fly around the world twice later this year, according to Lycoming Engines, the Williamsport, Pa.-based company that built the engine.

He has set world records circumnavigating the globe in both eastbound and westbound directions using a homemade plane he designed. His new attempts would have been northbound and southbound, crossing the North Pole and Antarctica on each trip, Lycoming says on its Web site.

The company said Schmid held more than 160 aviation world records in all. The new plane had a successful initial flight last month, according to the Experimental Aviation Association of Switzerland.

Vincent Devauchelle, deputy director of the airport, said the Swiss Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau was looking into the accident.