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Obituary for Allan Charles Lumley
Lapeer- Allan C. Lumley, age 54, a resident of Lapeer passed away very unexpectedly when the plane he was flying encountered mechanical difficulties just shortly after take off and crashed on Monday October 18, 2010, just south of the Sebewaing Airport.
He was born on July 8, 1956 in Lapeer the oldest son of Leonard and Sue Lumley. Allan graduated from Lapeer West High School in the Class of 1974. After graduation Allan went to work for the Ford Motor Co., Engine Plant in Romeo and retired from there several years ago. Upon retirement Allan became very active in his lifelong love of flying and was a fixture at the DuPont Airport in Lapeer with all of his friends and events that centered around the airport. He had a fascination with flying since he was a toddler and eventually owned his own plane and shared his talents as a pilot and enthusiasm for flying. He was a representative for the Eastern Michigan Young Marines and the Young Eagles, an organization that introduced planes and flying to young people, he was also a member of the Experimetal Aircraft Association Lapeer Chapter #1303. Allan routinely flew patients to Wisconsin and Minnesota for their check ups and recently he had been taking disabled children for airplane rides. He was very talented as a carpenter and anything he set his mind to. Allan was a good, honest, dedicated and loving son, father, brother and friend to many he will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Allan is survived by two sons Nathan Lumley of Lapeer and Neal Lumley of Ohio. His parents Leonard and Sue Lumley of Lapeer. Two brothers Scott and Nancy Lumley of Charlotte and Loren Lumley of Lexington. Five Grandchildren, a niece and many nephews. Several Aunts and uncles and many cousins and his beloved dog, Boris.
Visitation will be from 7-9 on Thursday and 2-9 on Friday at the Pomeroy Funeral Home at 5635 Main St. Lexington, Michigan 48450, and at the church Saturday from 11-1 PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 1 P.M. at the Hunters Creek Community Church. Pastor Joel Caminiti will officiate. Interment will follow in the Hunters Creek Cemetery. Memorials in memory of Allan may be made to the EAA.

2 Lapeer area pilots killed in crash Monday
Allan Lumley, Doug Kerchner were flying buddies

| OCTOBER 20, 2010

BY NANCY R. ELLIOTT
810-452-2601 • NELLIOTT@MIHOMEPAPER.COM

The Sebewaing Fire Dept. and Huron County Sheriff’s Dept. personnel responded early Monday evening to a plane crash south of the Sebewaing Township Airport that claimed the lives of two local pilots well known in the Lapeer-area aviation community.

MAYFIELD TWP.
— Under a cloudless blue sky, people flocked to Mayfield’s Dupont Lapeer Airport Tuesday, reeling from the loss of two beloved members of the close airport community. Allan Lumley, 54, of Lapeer and Doug Kerchner, 53, of Goodrich were lost in a plane crash Monday evening south of Sebewaing Township Airport. The flying buddies were doing something they dearly loved to do, flying Lumley’s 1991 Super Decathlon.

Al Lumley, 54, and his bright yellow acrobatic plane were fixtures at Dupont Lapeer Airport, where the plane was housed. He and Kerchner, also in his 50s, were both accomplished pilots.

“[Al] had an absolute passion for flying. He’d fly every chance he could,” agreed pilot and friend Phil Roach.

Lumley had owned the Decathlon over ten years. “He was a seasoned aerobatic pilot,” said fellow pilot Clarence Leazenby.

Elaine Anthony was a longtime friend and coworker of Lumley’s. She recalled, “He was enamored by flying and planes since he was a child.”

Always a big part of airport life, Lumley got even more involved there after retiring from the Ford Romeo Engine plant. He stepped into the role of president of the local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association.

With the EAA, Lumley worked to build the airport community as well as its impact on the area. Lumley had recently helped to construct the EAA’s entry for the Family Literacy Center’s camel races. He had flown children just weeks ago as part of the Dreams and Wings event. Lumley had a hand in everything from the airport pancake breakfast to Santa’s arrival by airplane at Christmastime.

He quietly helped in countless ways. Student pilot Betty Keil said he took her flying just to help her feel more comfortable with unusual flight configurations. “He was a very quiet and thoughtful guy,” Keil said.

Witness accounts suggest there may have been mechanical difficulties after the plane departed southbound from the Sebewaing Township Airport.

“He always wanted to help everybody,” agreed Leazenby.

Lumley’s dog, Boris, was right at home in the airport lobby Tuesday morning. He was getting lots of attention from the many people gathered at the airport Tuesday to remember and mourn their friends.

Lumley is survived by two sons, Nathan and Neal, and his parents, Leonard and Sue Lumley.

Kerchner was also a very familiar face at Dupont Lapeer Airport. He was an airport regular, and a thoroughly experienced ex-military pilot. He was a leader in Aviators for Ministry, involving local church youth with flight.

“He usually had some type of smile on his face,” said Roach. Kerchner often brought people out to the airport on weekends to take them up for a spin.

Kerchner leaves behind a wife and children.

The crash was reported at about 6 p.m. Monday by a resident in the area, according to a press release from the Huron County Sheriff’s Dept.. Residents and a Sebewaing patrolman attempted to extinguish the flames that erupted. The Sebewaing Fire Department then arrived and extinguished the fire. Members of the Huron County Sheriff’s Office responded and were assisted by the Fairhaven Township Police.

Witness accounts suggest there may have been mechanical difficulties after the plane departed southbound from the Sebewaing Township Airport. The Sheriff’s statement said that it is possible that the airplane may have been trying to return to the airport.

The Sebewaing Fire Department extracted the victims, using the Jaws of LIfe. They were transported to Huron Medical Center. Autopsies were scheduled for Tuesday.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety board were on scene Tuesday to investigate the accident.