7:40 p.m.
The Associated Press quotes an FAA spokesman as saying the flight took off from New Jersey, and was headed to Tampa, Florida.
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6:26 p.m.
State Police say there are no survivors in the crash, but at this point they cannot say how many people were in the plane or where it was coming from.
It was a crash that shattered the entire Pilatus PC-12 plane, leaving debris that covered 100 yards in the middle of the fields where it crashed. Parts of the plane were even hanging from the trees.
Many people in the area heard the plane when it went down.
"Real bad roar and a bomb going off, like 4th of July fireworks and an explosion,” said Carl Higgins.
Another man heard the same thing, then saw the smoke across the road from his apartment, which sent him running to the site to see what he could do to help.
"We jumped about six or seven fences just to get over there, and I don't know how many gates,” said Paul Walkswithwolves.
Joey Smith was with him.
"I was the first one up there and it was just nothing left,” he said.
The two men got to the site only to find the plane covered in flames with nothing else to do but have someone call police.
"Pieces falling out of the tree still on fire, the smell was awful,” said Smith.
Crews still look over the wreckage of the plane to piece together any clues. It’s a crash that had the entire area talking with their thoughts on whoever was inside.
Now, it’s just a matter of identifying the victim or victims and what caused the plane crash.
For the next week, investigators will be at the scene to take everything into consideration. They will have specialists in engines, structure, weather and air traffic control, and plane performance.
The National Transportation Safety Board says there should be a preliminary report in about two weeks. They go on to say it will be about nine months before they can announce a probable cause.
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3:49 p.m.
From Candice Nelson, in the field
WSLS Reporter
cnelson@wsls.com
Investigators have identified the type of plane that crashed.
It is a Pilatus PC-12, single engine low-wing monoplane. This type of plane is manufactured in Europe.
Investigators also added that the pilot was U.S. licensed, but has not been formally identified yet.
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2:45 p.m.
From Candice Nelson, in the field
WSLS Reporter
cnelson@wsls.com
Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have joined State Police at the crash scene.
At a news conference, investigators said the plane rose from 26,000 feet to 30,000 feet before the crash, but they did not know why.
The investigators added that there were "no survivors," then added that they could not say if that meant there was more than one person aboard.
They added that the debis field was 100 yards wide.
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2:15 p.m.
From Candice Nelson, in the field
WSLS Reporter
cnelson@wsls.com
A landowner took me to the crash scene. The plane wreckage is charred.
I'm waiting to hear from State Police with an update on the investigation.
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12:53 p.m.
From Candice Nelson, in the field
WSLS Reporter
cnelson@wsls.com
Rockbridge County Emergency Services Coordinator Robert Foresman tells me that the small plane crash killed one person, in Raphine. Foresman says the crash happened around 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning, in a field off of Raphine Road, across from McCormicks Circle Road.
I've also talked with one man who claims to have heard the plane, just before the crash.
We expect a news conference with State Police to begin at 2:00 p.m.
Watch WSLS at 6:00 p.m. for video and additional information.
More updates on www.wsls.com as we get them.
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11:45 a.m.
The Rockbridge County Sheriff's Office says State Police are investigating a plane crash in the county.
We're on our way to the county to get more information.
Watch WSLS at 6:00 p.m. for video and additional information.
More updates on www.wsls.com as we get them.
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