Connecticut Plane Crash Vigil Held For Four Dead Including Pilot and Teenage Son
Four people who were kiled after a plane crashing into two Connecticut houses on Aug. 9 have been identified by authorities, Fox News reported Sunday.
The pilot of the small plane, 54-year-old Bill Henningsgaard, and his 17-year-old son Maxwell were among the dead, East Haven Police reportedly confirmed. Sade Brantley, 13, and 12-month-old Madisyn Mitchell were also killed when the plane hit their house.
Henningsgaard, a Microsoft executive, and his son were reportedly traveling to visit colleges on the East Coast when their plane crashed. Investigators have not found no signs of what went wrong with the plane, but will have a preliminary report within 10 days. It could, however, be months until it's actually determined what caused the accident.
A vigil was held on Aug. 10 at Margaret Tucker Park to honor the four victims. The mother of Brantley and Mitchell, 39-year-old Joann Mitchell, was reportedly in attendance but didn't speak to the crowd. East Haven's Mayor Joseph Maturo was also at the vigil to show support.
Henningsgaard was reportedly bringing the 10-seater plane in for a landing at Tweed New Haven Airport while it was raining when the plane struck two small homes, engulfing them in flames, The Huffington Post reported. The aircraft's left wing reportedly was lodged in one house, its right wing in the other.
Mitchell reportedly yelled for help for her two children she said were in her burning house, but neighbors were forced to turn back from helping them because the flames were too severe. One neighbor, David Esposito, reportedly said he searched around the house frantically, but when he couldn't find the children he was forced to drag their mother out becasue the fire became to strong.