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| Investigation continues in plane crash that left six dead in Maryland | Investigation continues in plane crash that left six dead in Maryland |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Investigators combed through wreckage Tuesday in a Gaithersburg neighborhood where a small plane crashed into a home, killing six people, including a mother who was trying to shield her two young children. | Investigators combed through wreckage Tuesday in a Gaithersburg neighborhood where a small plane crashed into a home, killing six people, including a mother who was trying to shield her two young children. |
| Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board and fire and police authorities from Montgomery County are expected to talk to witnesses and sort through the scene Tuesday to try to figure out what caused a small jet plane — an Embraer EMB-500/Phenom 100 — traveling from North Carolina to tumble into 19733 Drop Forge Lane and hit two other houses on the street. | Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board and fire and police authorities from Montgomery County are expected to talk to witnesses and sort through the scene Tuesday to try to figure out what caused a small jet plane — an Embraer EMB-500/Phenom 100 — traveling from North Carolina to tumble into 19733 Drop Forge Lane and hit two other houses on the street. |
| The pilot, two passengers, the mother, Marie Gemmell, 36, and two of her children — 3-year-old Cole and 6-week-old Devon — were killed. Michael Rosenberg, 66, was flying the plane. | The pilot, two passengers, the mother, Marie Gemmell, 36, and two of her children — 3-year-old Cole and 6-week-old Devon — were killed. Michael Rosenberg, 66, was flying the plane. |
| The passengers have been tentatively identified as David Hartman, 52, and Chikioke Ogbuka, 31, of Raleigh, N.C., Montgomery County police said on Tuesday afternoon. | The passengers have been tentatively identified as David Hartman, 52, and Chikioke Ogbuka, 31, of Raleigh, N.C., Montgomery County police said on Tuesday afternoon. |
| (Audio: 911 calls after crash: ‘It went straight down’) | (Audio: 911 calls after crash: ‘It went straight down’) |
| With a flight data recorder in hand, NTSB investigators should quickly determine what caused the crash, although their methodical process may not reveal the crucial details for several months. | |
| At a news conference Tuesday, NTSB board member Robert Sumwalt shared some preliminary information that analysts had gleaned from the flight data recorder. | |
| Sumwalt said that the entire 57-minute flight was recorded. The information seemed to rule out some potential causes of a crash — there was no evidence that a bird had gotten into the engine or that the engine had catastrophically failed for some other reason, Sumwalt said. | |
| He also said that the plane did not break apart until it hit the ground. | |
| At the time of the crash, the landing gear was down, he said. Data as well as the observations of two other pilots who were at the Montgomery County Airpark at the time indicated that the plane pitched up and down and rolled left and right significantly before crashing, Sumwalt said. | |
| By midday Tuesday, a Web page for the family of Marie Gemmell had raised more than $152,000. The site tells of how Gemmell’s husband, Ken, and the couple’s oldest child were the only survivors of the family. | |
| Jill Lyons, who has known the Gemmell family for several years and whose children at one point attended the same day care the Gemmells used, said Tuesday that friends in the area were gathering clothes and gift cards to pharmacies and restaurants for the surviving father and oldest daughter. | Jill Lyons, who has known the Gemmell family for several years and whose children at one point attended the same day care the Gemmells used, said Tuesday that friends in the area were gathering clothes and gift cards to pharmacies and restaurants for the surviving father and oldest daughter. |
| Lyons recalled Marie Gemmell as a doting, caring mother. The two had exchanged messages on Facebook as recently as Saturday, talking about how big their kids were getting. They were trying to set up a play date for Lyons to see the newborn, Devon. | Lyons recalled Marie Gemmell as a doting, caring mother. The two had exchanged messages on Facebook as recently as Saturday, talking about how big their kids were getting. They were trying to set up a play date for Lyons to see the newborn, Devon. |
| “She was one of the sweetest, fun-loving, generous people you would ever meet,” Lyons said Tuesday. “She always had a smile on her face.” | “She was one of the sweetest, fun-loving, generous people you would ever meet,” Lyons said Tuesday. “She always had a smile on her face.” |
| Authorities were on the scene overnight, guarding the crash site, and some roads reopened in the neighborhood early Tuesday after having been closed all day Monday. | Authorities were on the scene overnight, guarding the crash site, and some roads reopened in the neighborhood early Tuesday after having been closed all day Monday. |
| As the fire from the crash spread, Marie Gemmell rushed to a windowless bathroom on the second floor of her home and tried to protect her children, officials said. | As the fire from the crash spread, Marie Gemmell rushed to a windowless bathroom on the second floor of her home and tried to protect her children, officials said. |
| “She tried to save these kids,” Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said of the mother of three, who friends said was on maternity leave from her job. | “She tried to save these kids,” Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said of the mother of three, who friends said was on maternity leave from her job. |
| (Air traffic control audio: ‘There’s nothing left’ of this house) | (Air traffic control audio: ‘There’s nothing left’ of this house) |
| “She had nowhere to go,” he added. “She couldn’t get out of the bathroom. One kid was between her legs, and the other was in her arms.” | “She had nowhere to go,” he added. “She couldn’t get out of the bathroom. One kid was between her legs, and the other was in her arms.” |
| Police said Tuesday that the mother and children died of smoke inhalation. | Police said Tuesday that the mother and children died of smoke inhalation. |
| Those aboard the plane were headed to a meeting at the Food and Drug Administration offices in Montgomery County. Rosenberg was a veteran pilot but it was the second time that he had crashed while landing at the Montgomery County Airpark, close to where the plane went down Monday. | Those aboard the plane were headed to a meeting at the Food and Drug Administration offices in Montgomery County. Rosenberg was a veteran pilot but it was the second time that he had crashed while landing at the Montgomery County Airpark, close to where the plane went down Monday. |
| In March 2010, Rosenberg suffered minor injuries when he crashed a Socata TBM 700, a turbo-propeller plane. In that incident, he also was coming from North Carolina. | In March 2010, Rosenberg suffered minor injuries when he crashed a Socata TBM 700, a turbo-propeller plane. In that incident, he also was coming from North Carolina. |
| The Montgomery County airport is an uncontrolled runway, which means that, as opposed to larger airports, there is no air traffic control tower directing final approaches. The county-owned airport opened in 1959 to relieve aviation traffic into what is now known as Reagan National Airport. Since the emergence of Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport and Dulles International Airport, the facility in Gaithersburg has transformed into one used by small planes and business travelers. | The Montgomery County airport is an uncontrolled runway, which means that, as opposed to larger airports, there is no air traffic control tower directing final approaches. The county-owned airport opened in 1959 to relieve aviation traffic into what is now known as Reagan National Airport. Since the emergence of Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport and Dulles International Airport, the facility in Gaithersburg has transformed into one used by small planes and business travelers. |
| (Video: Police say death toll climbs to six) | (Video: Police say death toll climbs to six) |
| The airport has about 100,000 annual departures and arrivals and is the fourth-busiest general aviation airport in Maryland. | The airport has about 100,000 annual departures and arrivals and is the fourth-busiest general aviation airport in Maryland. |
| There have been two accidents at the Gaithersburg airport this year. | There have been two accidents at the Gaithersburg airport this year. |
| On Sept. 13, a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Cessna nosed over after landing. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. Three weeks earlier, the pilot of a Piper plane was seriously injured when he made a forced landing after his engine failed. There have been 12 crashes at the airpark since 1996, none of them fatal. | On Sept. 13, a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Cessna nosed over after landing. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. Three weeks earlier, the pilot of a Piper plane was seriously injured when he made a forced landing after his engine failed. There have been 12 crashes at the airpark since 1996, none of them fatal. |
| On Monday, witnesses described a loud boom and later a smoky, fiery scene on the street. Two other homes were also struck by the plane. | On Monday, witnesses described a loud boom and later a smoky, fiery scene on the street. Two other homes were also struck by the plane. |
| Tracy Everett said he was driving his work van when he looked up and saw that the plane was “unsteady” and in trouble. “It was wobbly,” he said. “It was 100 to 200 above the trees.” He said the plane then did a rolling dive to the left, and then “I saw smoke.” | Tracy Everett said he was driving his work van when he looked up and saw that the plane was “unsteady” and in trouble. “It was wobbly,” he said. “It was 100 to 200 above the trees.” He said the plane then did a rolling dive to the left, and then “I saw smoke.” |
| He said he drove to the scene and “saw and heard a secondary explosion. It was so powerful you could feel it under your feet.” | He said he drove to the scene and “saw and heard a secondary explosion. It was so powerful you could feel it under your feet.” |
| Dianne Gayle, who lives on the street, said she heard a plane overhead as she was working in her living room. That’s not unusual, given how close she and her neighbors live to the airport. | Dianne Gayle, who lives on the street, said she heard a plane overhead as she was working in her living room. That’s not unusual, given how close she and her neighbors live to the airport. |
| Then she heard a boom, and her house seemed to shake. She jumped up, looked out her window and saw a home down the street engulfed in flames. Gayle called 911. “The house is on fire! The house is on fire!” she remembered telling the operator. “A plane crashed into the house! A plane crashed into the house!” | Then she heard a boom, and her house seemed to shake. She jumped up, looked out her window and saw a home down the street engulfed in flames. Gayle called 911. “The house is on fire! The house is on fire!” she remembered telling the operator. “A plane crashed into the house! A plane crashed into the house!” |
| Gayle walked outside. “It was a total inferno,” she remembered. | Gayle walked outside. “It was a total inferno,” she remembered. |
| Neighbors said Ken and Marie Gemmell had lived in the house for about seven years. Their children often played in the front yard. | Neighbors said Ken and Marie Gemmell had lived in the house for about seven years. Their children often played in the front yard. |
| Ken Gemmell had left the house a few hours before the crash. The couple’s oldest child was at school at the time of the crash. | Ken Gemmell had left the house a few hours before the crash. The couple’s oldest child was at school at the time of the crash. |
| After rushing back Monday, Ken Gemmell was led to the home, knowing that his wife and children had not emerged. As the house still was in flames, he stood in front of it, staring blankly for 10 minutes before being led away. | After rushing back Monday, Ken Gemmell was led to the home, knowing that his wife and children had not emerged. As the house still was in flames, he stood in front of it, staring blankly for 10 minutes before being led away. |
| Late Monday, Ken Gemmell had changed his Facebook profile photo to one of his wife, Devon and Cole. Another photo showed him and his wife at a festive occasion. Several friends had posted notes of condolence. | Late Monday, Ken Gemmell had changed his Facebook profile photo to one of his wife, Devon and Cole. Another photo showed him and his wife at a festive occasion. Several friends had posted notes of condolence. |
| A former colleague of Marie Gemmell, who worked at Davis Construction for a dozen years before taking another job several months ago, mourned her loss. | A former colleague of Marie Gemmell, who worked at Davis Construction for a dozen years before taking another job several months ago, mourned her loss. |
| “She’s really going to be missed,” Brian Polesnak said of his friend, whose Facebook page said she was a native of New Jersey. “She always loved her family, loved her kids. She always had a smile or a joke.” | “She’s really going to be missed,” Brian Polesnak said of his friend, whose Facebook page said she was a native of New Jersey. “She always loved her family, loved her kids. She always had a smile or a joke.” |
| Lyons, the family friend, said Tuesday that the Gemmells’ oldest girl attends Goshen Elementary School. | Lyons, the family friend, said Tuesday that the Gemmells’ oldest girl attends Goshen Elementary School. |
| “How do you explain this to a second-grader?” Lyons said. She said she told her own children – a 9-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy – about the tragedy last night. | “How do you explain this to a second-grader?” Lyons said. She said she told her own children – a 9-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy – about the tragedy last night. |
| “I told them a terrible thing has happened,” Lyons said. “They have gone to heaven.” She said, “It makes you hug your own kids and family that much tighter.” | “I told them a terrible thing has happened,” Lyons said. “They have gone to heaven.” She said, “It makes you hug your own kids and family that much tighter.” |
| Lyons said Marie Gemmell had posted on her Facebook page Monday that she was looking forward to spending the day snuggling with her boys and being home and lazy. She said the couple enjoyed drinking draft beer and were big D.C. United and Denver Broncos fans. | Lyons said Marie Gemmell had posted on her Facebook page Monday that she was looking forward to spending the day snuggling with her boys and being home and lazy. She said the couple enjoyed drinking draft beer and were big D.C. United and Denver Broncos fans. |
| Lyons said Marie loved to entertain – kids in the neighborhood and friends. In October, they had a birthday party for Cole, who turned 3. It was an Elmo-themed party, Lyons said. For Halloween, all three kids were characters from the Disney movie “Frozen.” | Lyons said Marie loved to entertain – kids in the neighborhood and friends. In October, they had a birthday party for Cole, who turned 3. It was an Elmo-themed party, Lyons said. For Halloween, all three kids were characters from the Disney movie “Frozen.” |
| Lyons said when Devon came along, Marie was “so happy to have that third baby and complete their family.” | Lyons said when Devon came along, Marie was “so happy to have that third baby and complete their family.” |
| Dana Hedgpeth, Julie Zauzmer and Miles Parks contributed to this report. |