NTSB Investigators prepare to move wreckage of plane

12:04 AM, Jun 9, 2012   |    comments
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The focus now turns to determining why the aircraft went down

 

 


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Lake Wales, Florida -- Now that all the bodies of the victims have been recovered, the focus turns to recovering all of the aircraft and determining why it went down. 

NTSB investigator Tim Monville knows the plane started to break apart in flight, but doesn't know why.

Photos: Deadly plane crash in Lake Wales

"We don't know if the structural separation is the resultant of some other event that preceded that, so all I'll tell you is factually we have parts structurally separated, I don't know what that means yet."

A massive hole was ripped into the side of the fuselage, possibly by lightning, or could it be something else? The plane flew through a section of restricted air space, but Sheriff Grady Judd says any action as a result of crossing into that space is not being considered.

"From all the information that I've heard, that played no part in this at all."

Investigators know there was a may day call, but the reason is unknown.

"The pilot of another aircraft heard the pilot of this aircraft announce a May Day, he gave his call sign but he was not specific about the nature of the emergency."

Meanwhile, the loss is taking a toll on the people of Junction City, Kansas where the Bramlage's lived. Flowers and candles surround their home and several area schools where they donated money for education. Just a month ago, they celebrated with friends the purchase of their new plane, said family friend Gary Schoenrock.

"We were all so excited that the plane was here, my wife has pictures of Roxanne, their youngest daughter, doing cartwheels on the Tarmac with such excitement that her dad had gotten a new plane."

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