Bloomington restaurateur Nathan Finney died Wednesday in a small plane crash in Fairland.
Finney owned and created Finney Hospitality Group, which includes local restaurants and franchises Smokeworks, The Tap, Social Cantina and Yogi’s. He founded Kind Car Wash in Columbus this year.
Finney and flight instructor Warren Bruhl were the only people on board the Cirrus SR 22T when it crashed in a cornfield Nov. 22 near Shelbyville Municipal Airport, about 25 miles southeast of Indianapolis. The plane caught fire after crashing.
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Finney was learning to fly and had recently purchased the plane.
According to flight records, the plane left the Monroe County Airport in Bloomington at 4:05 p.m. on Nov. 22. It was last seen near Shelbyville at 4:46 p.m.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. A spokesperson said a recording device was recovered, and an investigator will collect witness statements, flight track data and recordings from the air traffic control and surrounding surveillance video. A report on the crash will be published within 30 days.
Bruhl worked for Gambit Aviation. The company confirmed Bruhl’s death yesterday in a Facebook post.
On the day of the crash, Bruhl shared photos on Facebook of him and Finney flying in the Cirrus.
“It’s moments like this I cherish,” Bruhl wrote. “Training Nathan Finney yesterday in his new 22T and assisting his development in the next chapters of his flying passions. IFR flying above the clouds and back on a night approach in IFR into his home airport BMG. Much to be THANKFUL FOR this year.”
Finney Hospitality Group released a statement Sunday.
Finney lived in Bloomington with his wife and two young children.
Story has been updated with statement from Finney Hospitality.
