JACKSON, Miss. —
A small plane carrying three family members broke apart in the air and crashed in northeast Mississippi on Sunday, killing everyone on board, officials said.
Witnesses reported a thunderstorm in the area when the single-engine Piper Cherokee Lance crashed near New Site, about 35 miles northeast of Tupelo. Officials did not immediately know what caused the crash.
The dead were identified as James Bartley Jr.; his wife, Terry Bartley; and their youngest daughter, Caroline Bartley, said Carter Hyneman, who shared a podiatry practice with Bartley in Columbus, Ga.
The family was flying from their vacation home in the North Carolina mountains to the University of Mississippi, where Caroline Bartley was a student, Hyneman said. Mitchell Diggs, a university spokesman, could not immediately confirm that Caroline Bartley was a student.
Debris was scattered over about half a mile in a wooded area, Prentiss County Emergency Management Director Ralph Lauderdale said. The fuselage containing the passengers plunged into the ground, and it took almost two hours to find it. A medical helicopter eventually spotted it and guided searchers to the wreckage. About 125 emergency workers from five counties aided in the search, Lauderdale said.
The seven-seat plane left Andrews, N.C., and was headed to Oxford, Miss., when it crashed about 2 p.m. Sunday. Larry Johnson, who lives near the crash site, said a thunderstorm with lightning was in the area when he heard the plane.
Wayne Stutts, who also lives nearby, said what appeared to be wing parts and a wheel landed on his property. He said other items from inside the plane, including snack food, were scattered about. Lauderdale said the fuselage was partially buried and crumpled.
“There was a very significant impact,” he said. “They probably went from 8,000 feet to the ground.”
Emergency personnel could not immediately remove the victims, and had trouble bringing equipment to the isolated site, Lauderdale said.
Jim Peters, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.
It wasn’t immediately clear who was piloting the plane, but James Bartley does have a private pilot’s license, according to the FAA.
State News
Small plane crashes; 3 dead
- State News
-
-
Fire chief says search almost complete in Oklahoma
The search for survivors and the dead is nearly complete in the Oklahoma City suburb that was smashed by a mammoth tornado, the fire chief said Tuesday.
-
Indian guest workers sue company in Miss., Texas
Dozens of Indian guest workers are suing an Alabama-based marine and fabrication company, claiming it financially exploited them and forced them to live in squalid conditions after bringing them to work at Gulf Coast shipyards after Hurricane Katrina.
-
Man wants pay for snakes seized in Miss. porn case
A man serving 30 years after pleading guilty to enticing a teenager to pose for pornographic pictures with venomous snakes has filed a federal lawsuit seeking compensation for the loss of his reptiles.
-
Tornado churns through Oklahoma City suburbs
A mile-wide tornado churned through the Oklahoma City suburbs, destroying homes for the second day in a row Monday, as part of a severe weather outbreak that was expected to spread in other parts of the Plains and Midwest.
-
Tchnology can speed emergency response
Recent national tragedies have reminded us once again how important it is to stay in touch with loved ones and emergency response officials for breaking news. Being technology-ready before disaster strikes is critical to saving lives, connecting friends and family, and assisting first responders.
I -
Miss. seniors get another shot to pass grad tests
Mississippi officials are trying to retest hundreds of high school seniors who flunked exams that are required for graduation.
-
Only abortion clinic in Miss. fights to stay open
It can’t meet the mandates of a 2012 state law and the governor wants to shut it down, but Mississippi’s only abortion clinic is not about to quietly retreat.
-
Ex-BP engineer claims feds withheld evidence
A former BP engineer charged with deleting text messages about the company’s response to its 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico urged a federal judge Tuesday to sanction Justice Department prosecutors for allegedly withholding evidence in the case, a claim the prosecutors deny.
-
Amtrak unveils locomotives to replace aging fleet
When Amtrak unveiled the first of 70 new locomotives Monday at a plant in California, it marked what the national passenger railroad service hopes will be a new era of better reliability, streamlined maintenance and better energy efficiency.
-
Miss. health agency to resume pregnancy work
Mississippi Medicaid officials will resume paying state Health Department workers to help women with high-risk pregnancies.
- More State News Headlines
-
Fire chief says search almost complete in Oklahoma
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
New Xbox One Entertainment Console Unveiled
