The Tribune

THE tragic death of two American couples in a plane crash ripped through the small community of Treasure Cay yesterday.

Last night, civil aviation officials began their probe into the circumstances that led to the single engine plane’s fatal crash shortly after take-off in the Abacos.

Residents were said to be in disbelief as reports circulated that there were no survivors on board the private six-seater plane that claimed the lives of four second home-owners and a dog.

The bodies of married South Floridians Gregory and Janice Schwartzenberger and Dennis and Janie Sartoris were burnt beyond recognition, according to officials, who said the plane was discovered engulfed in flames.

The couples were headed to Fort Pierce, Florida, when the plane went down into trees on the northside of the runway sometime after 1.30pm.

Administrator Theophilus Cox explained that air traffic controllers did not realize that the plane had crashed until they sent a team out to investigate smoke rising from the area.

“They saw the smoke and the fire rescue from the airport came to investigate and they came and found the plane engulfed in flames.

He added: “Because of the wind, normally they would take off heading east. But because of the direction of wind, they took off in the other direction – away from the terminal. (Air traffic) thought the aircraft was already airborne.”

Fire and Crash Rescue Chief Colin Albury said the flames were extinguished in about two minutes.

According to Florida aircraft registry, the Piper PA-32R was registered to Moonchaser LLC, number 8415c. The limited liability company is reportedly jointly managed by Mr Schwartzenberger and Mr Sartoris.

Mr Sartoris is the owner of Florida-based DCS Dental Lab Inc and a former member of the US Navy. Mr Schwartzenberger is the owner/president of EC Concrete Inc, based in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

One employee at the Treasure Cay Beach, Marina and Golf Resort said: “(The deceased) were frequent visitors, they owned homes here. It’s sad, a few second homeowners have come and asked if it was true already. The news is spreading like wildfire, it’s a huge shock.”

The tragic incident is the country’s first fatal plane crash since the Cessna 402 dropped into Lake Killarney on October 5, 2010 – killing nine people.

Plans to modernise and strengthen the aviation sector were announced earlier this year. Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said the Government obtained a $50 million-loan from the Inter-American Development Bank to overhaul the Bahamian civil aviation industry.

Under the IDB loan, he said initiatives will improve air transportation systems, increase flights and airlift across the Bahamas, while modernising airports.

Mr Ingraham added that an independent body will be established to investigate aviation incidents and accidents.