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Man killed in Rabun County plane crash identified

By Daniel Wilco
July 27, 2014

The man killed in a Saturday morning Rabun County plane crash has been identified as 62-year-old Ernest Merkelis, the county coroner told Channel 2 Action News.

Merkelis, of Clayton, was killed when a plane crashed into the side of a mountain shortly after takeoff from Heavens Landing in Rabun County, county emergency management agency director Michael Mazarky told the TV station.

He said there was some light fog in the area at the time of the crash, which was around 9 a.m.

The reason for the crash was not immediately available.

— Please return to ajc.com for updates.

— Staff reporter Taylor West contributed to this report

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