Arthur Christian Orjias - Submitted for the USGenWeb by Richard P. Sevier 4/10/2012

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Arthur Christian Orjias - Madison Parish, Louisiana 

From Tallulah Madison Journal, November 9, 1978

Airplane crash claims lives of two young Tallulah men

Federal Aviation Officials say it will be an about three-months before National Transportation Safety 
Board officials release finally the cause of a single-engine plane crash here Thursday afternoon that 
the lives of two young Tallulah men.

Arthur C. Orjias and James Earl Givens were both killed instantly when the two-seat Champion they 
were flying crashed in the Tallulah Academy football field at about 5:15 p.m. Thursday. Madison 
Parish Coronor Las A. Neumann said.

Madison Parish Sheriff's official investigators indicated that the right wing and windshield of the 
plane separated from the fuselage during a high-stress pullout. Officials said the plane, which belonged 
to Orjias' employer, Merle Gustafson, of Tallulah, took off from Air Service airstrip on La. xxx and 
was seen flying over town during the afternoon.

Xxxxx Metrejon of the F.A.A. said the plane had a standard aircraft certificate and was properly 
maintained. He said that according to available information Orjias had about 200 hours of flight time 
on a private pilot's license.

Many of the Academy's students were at the school preparing to leave for the night's football game with 
Briarfield Academy at the time of the crash. No students were injured.

Neumann said the wing portion landed behind the school's gymnasium about 300 yards west of the fuselage, 
"missing a little girl by about two feet."

Madison Parish Sheriff R. R. Mitchell said parts of the plane were scattered over the football field. 
Tallulah's fire department stood by at the crash with foam applicators because of gas fumes in the air, 
but no flames broke out.

Chief Deputy B. B. Harmon, who reported the crash, said he heard the craft's engine sputtering, walked 
out onto his porch and saw something that looked like an explosion, "but no flames." He said the wing 
separated about 500 feet in the air, and the plane plunged.

Richmond resident Walter Cobb said his children were watching the plane from his backyard north of the 
field when they heard a loud pop, saw the wing come off and the plane fall.


The funeral of Arthur Christian Orjias, 20, of Tallulah was held today at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist 
Church with the Rev. Crawford Williams officiating. Burial was in Silver Cross Cemetery under the direction 
of Crothers Funeral Home.

Mr. Orjias died Thursday afternoon in a plane crash.

A native of New Orleans, Orjias had lived in Tallulah for 17 years. He was a farmer and a member of the 
First Baptist Church and a graduate of Tallulah Academy High School.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Orjias Jr. of Tallulah; a brother, Autie T. Orjias 
of Tallulah; a sister, Susan Stephanie Orjias of Tallulah; his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Kyzar 
of Tallulah, and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Ramona Orjias of New Orleans.

Pallbearers were Steve Gustafson, Marlin Evans, Mitch Hopkins, James Albert Martin, Dusty Butler, 
Merle Gustafson, Tommy Wixson and Joe Foster.