FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 11/30/2009) One person is confirmed dead after a small plane crashed at the Memphis International Airport amid difficult weather conditions Sunday evening.
FAA investigators have concluded an on-scene field review of the crash, but the determination of the official cause could take a year to complete.
Around 5pm Sunday, emergency crews rushed four adults to The MED after the single-engine Piper crashed feet away from it's runway.
Employees at nearby car rental companies say they saw the plane fly in low, land on it's belly, then burst into a ball of fire. They say crews had a difficult time removing the pilot from the burning plane.
The MED spokespeople say Memphian Emmet O'Ryan died. Meantime, passengers Robert O'Ryan, Ruth O'Ryan and Patrick Jennings are expected to survive.
The group was returning hometo Memphis from Lewisburg, West Virginia. The survivors and witnesses will be interviewed as part of the joint FAA and NTSB investigation into the crash.
"I am not aware of any emergency communications between the aircraft and the tower at this time," says Scott Brock of the Memphis/Shelby County Airport Authority.
While it is still too soon to speculate what may have caused the crash, experts say low visibility and weather conditions may have posed a dangerous threat. The FAA reports one mile visibility and a 300 foot ceiling at the time of the crash.
"In any investigation, we look at he aircraft itself. We look at the weather. We look at the pilot and how he or she was operating the flight," says FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen.
A preliminary report could be ready within 10 days.
- Emmet O'Ryan died when his plane crashed Sunday afternoon
- Three other people will survive
- Cause of crash not known
(Memphis 11/30/2009) One person is confirmed dead after a small plane crashed at the Memphis International Airport amid difficult weather conditions Sunday evening.
FAA investigators have concluded an on-scene field review of the crash, but the determination of the official cause could take a year to complete.
Around 5pm Sunday, emergency crews rushed four adults to The MED after the single-engine Piper crashed feet away from it's runway.
Employees at nearby car rental companies say they saw the plane fly in low, land on it's belly, then burst into a ball of fire. They say crews had a difficult time removing the pilot from the burning plane.
The MED spokespeople say Memphian Emmet O'Ryan died. Meantime, passengers Robert O'Ryan, Ruth O'Ryan and Patrick Jennings are expected to survive.
The group was returning hometo Memphis from Lewisburg, West Virginia. The survivors and witnesses will be interviewed as part of the joint FAA and NTSB investigation into the crash.
"I am not aware of any emergency communications between the aircraft and the tower at this time," says Scott Brock of the Memphis/Shelby County Airport Authority.
While it is still too soon to speculate what may have caused the crash, experts say low visibility and weather conditions may have posed a dangerous threat. The FAA reports one mile visibility and a 300 foot ceiling at the time of the crash.
"In any investigation, we look at he aircraft itself. We look at the weather. We look at the pilot and how he or she was operating the flight," says FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen.
A preliminary report could be ready within 10 days.
