Just over a half-year after a plane crash in east Lewis County killed three people, the Chehalis-Centralia Airport is working on a plan to permanently honor the memory of the pilot who also contributed much to aviation in the Twin Cities.

Ken Sabin, 70, of Adna, was piloting a plane owned by Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute carrying technician Rod Rinta and Dr. Paul Shenk the morning of Oct. 25, 2010, when the twin-engine Cessna crashed 10 miles northeast of Morton, killing all three. They were en route to Lewiston, Idaho, on a business trip when an engine reportedly gave out.

Now, the airport whose board he served on is preparing to honor his name by proposing to rename a stretch of road that takes drivers from Airport Road to the buildings front door after him.

Its not official yet, but our board has approved signage honoring Kens memory, Chehalis-Centralia Airport manager Allyn Roe said Monday. He was a very big contributor to the board and our airport in general.

Sabin ran his own charter company, Sabair Flying Service, for a decade and also had worked at Security State Bank in Centralia for more than 30 years. He came back to the bank after being asked to return during the foreclosure crisis. Sabin was chartered to fly Rinta and Shenk the morning of the crash.

Roe noted that Sabin was rated as an instructor and had logged an untold number of miles through his charter service.

The Centralia-Chehalis Airport Board had unanimously voted to install signage designating Ken Sabin Way, but they didnt like the original design set forth. New plans are on the way, although there is no timetable for the completion of the designation, Roe said.

He really meant a lot to us and the community, and we just want to get this done right, Roe said.

Christopher Brewer: (360) 807-8235