Tragedy struck late Saturday night when a small aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Covington Municipal Airport, located approximately 35 miles east of Atlanta, Georgia, resulting in the deaths of two individuals.
The plane, identified as a Rockwell Commander, departed around 11:00 p.m. but soon lost contact with air traffic control, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). No further communication was received from the aircraft following its departure.
By 11:40 p.m., officers from the Covington Police Department discovered the wreckage in a wooded area north of the airport runway, according to AFP. Both occupants on board were found deceased at the crash site.
The deceased have been identified as James Hardee, 62, and Janet Hardee, 59, both residents of Covington, Georgia. Authorities have yet to disclose who was piloting the aircraft at the time of the crash, and no images from the crash site have been released.
The cause of the crash remains undetermined. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation to uncover the circumstances leading to the accident. In the coming days, further information regarding flight conditions and the aircraft's status prior to the crash is expected to be gathered.
The Rockwell Commander is a U.S.-manufactured single-engine plane with a capacity of four people. No damage to nearby infrastructure or additional casualties have been reported.
Investigators continue to work diligently to unravel the factors that may have contributed to this tragic event.
Recent Aviation Accidents in the U.S.
This incident adds to a troubling series of recent aviation accidents in the United States, affecting both military and civilian sectors.
- On January 29, a commercial airplane and an army helicopter collided near the capital, resulting in 67 fatalities.
- On January 31, a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia, claiming the lives of six people on board and one person on the ground.
- Last week, a small passenger plane went down in Alaska, leading to the deaths of ten individuals.
- On February 10, a tragic accident at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona left one dead and several injured after a private plane collided with another aircraft on the runway.
- On February 12, a Navy E/A-18G Growler military aircraft crashed into San Diego Bay, California. Both crew members successfully ejected before impact and were rescued, according to authorities.
Understanding the Rockwell Commander Plane Crash
What caused the plane crash in Georgia?
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, and investigations by the FAA and NTSB are ongoing to uncover the circumstances leading to the accident.
Who were the victims of the crash?
The victims were James Hardee, 62, and Janet Hardee, 59, both residents of Covington, Georgia.
Has there been any damage to nearby infrastructure?
No damage to nearby infrastructure has been reported as a result of the crash.