Survivor of Gwinnett plane crash was ‘inches from death,’ pastor says

A 72-year-old Florida man who flew for the Air Force and Pan Am is recovering after a plane crash near Lawrenceville killed a Roswell tech founder.

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Peter Magnuson and Eric Stephens, 57, were aboard the single-engine plane when it went down off Old Athens Road around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Gwinnett County firefighters said. Stephens died at the scene.

Nathan Rice, who leads Magnuson’s congregation in Ocala, said word came Tuesday night.

“The associate pastor at our church called me and let me know the news, and I’m grateful that he began with the words, ‘Peter’s OK, but he’s been in an accident,’” Rice said.

In a guest sermon at Christ Community Church, Magnuson described his working life.

“I went on and had a 40-year career as a professional pilot,” Magnuson said. “I used to fly around fighter jets with my hair on fire.”

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Stephens spent 20 years building the Roswell company zPaper, which called him a mentor and friend to everyone there. He sang in his church choir for 30 years, and Rice said his own congregation is grieving with Stephens’ family.

The church and Magnuson’s brothers and sisters are coordinating his care, his pastor said.

“He was just inches from death,” Rice said.

Magnuson closed one sermon by telling the congregation where his strength comes from.

“By the power of God through trusting and obeying Him, you can fly,” Magnuson said. “You can spread your wings and you can fly. That’s been my testimony. I’ve seen it so true throughout my entire life.”

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what brought the plane down.

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