Titusville Man Dies In Plane Crash

A Titusville businessman died Monday morning when his private airplane crashed in Tennessee on a return trip from a relative’s funeral.

Family members said Rick Summers 45, had flown to Olney, Illinois Saturday for the funeral of his sister-in-law. Monday morning he started back to Dunn Airpark in Titusville in his single-engine American Yankee.

Shortly after take off, Summers called the Flight Service Station in Bowling Green, Ky, to report his engine cowling was coming loose from the airplane, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman, Jack Barker in Atlanta. At 7:30 a.m. Central time, Summers crashed one mile southeast of Lafayette, Tenn, approximately 45 miles northeast of Nashville, Barker said.

Mr. Summers was an 18-year Brevard resident and worked for Rockwell International at Kennedy Space Center since 1965. He was a member of Rockwell’s quality and reliability team, a quality assurance supervisor, a special assignment supervisor and was recently made Rockwell quality engineer at Kennedy Space Center.

Summers managed Galaxy Medals, a commemorative medallion company, and was a partner with Mims resident Sam Williamson in the Eight-Ball Swap Shop in Titusville.

Summers is survived by his wife, Phyllis, who managed the Galaxy shop, and three children.

Services for Mr. Summers are scheduled at North Brevard Funeral Home in Titusville.

Florida Today (Cocoa, FL) – Wednesday, August 10 & 11, 1982

Richard "Rick" Summers, 45, Titusville, Fla. died Monday, August 1982 in an airplane crash in Tennessee. He had been in Olney attending the funeral of his sister-in-law, Vernice Summers.

Services at the Brevard North Funeral Home in Titusville. Burial in Titusville.

He is survived by eight brothers, Howard "Dutch," Robert and Dr. T.F. Summers, all of Olney, Gilbert, Lawrenceville, Tenn., Dr. John Summers, St. Louis, Mo., Eugene, Auburndale, Fla., Paul, Titusville and Dale, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; two sisters, Geraldine Summers of Olney and Mitzi VonAlmen; his wife, Phyllis; two sons, David and Dwayne and a daughter, Denise, all of Titusville.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL) ~ August 11, 1982