Saturday, September 03, 2016

Cessna 172N Skyhawk, N6091E, Volux Aviation LLC: Fatal accident occurred September 03, 2016 near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (KFLL), Broward County, Florida

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident 

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office;  Miami, Florida
Lycoming; Atlanta, Georgia
Textron; Wichita, Kansas 

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf 


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Volux Aviation LLChttp://registry.faa.gov/N6091E

NTSB Identification: ERA16FA309
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 03, 2016 in Hollywood, FL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 07/20/2017
Aircraft: CESSNA 172, registration: N6091E
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot did not receive a weather briefing before beginning the cross-country flight. After takeoff, the pilot requested from air traffic control to fly below 500 ft above ground level along the ocean shoreline. The controller approved the request but advised of heavy precipitation (a thunderstorm) at the airplane's 12-o'clock position and 4 miles ahead. The controller further advised that the pilot should turn left and fly offshore 3 miles to avoid the thunderstorm. Although the pilot acknowledged the instructions, a review of radar and GPS data for the flight revealed that he continued on course. About 3 minutes later, the pilot reported the he was reversing direction, and no further communications were received from the pilot. Review of the airplane's GPS track overlaid on weather radar plots revealed that the airplane flew into an area of extreme intensity precipitation and then entered a rapid descent and impacted the ocean. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions. It is likely that the pilot lost control of the airplane when it encountered strong downdrafts and heavy rain associated with the thunderstorm.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight weather planning, which resulted in continued flight into a thunderstorm and a subsequent loss of airplane control.


Frederick Ivory Gautzsch Jr.
 Boca Raton, Florida 
November 11th, 1942 - September 3rd, 2016

Robert Chartrand 
February 8th, 1950 - September 3rd, 2016
Resident of La Salle, Quebec, Canada


A crashed Cessna 172N Skyhawk, N6091E, is seen about 40 ft underwater off Dania Beach.


HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On September 3, 2016, about 0950 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6091E, was destroyed when it impacted the Atlantic Ocean while maneuvering near Hollywood, Florida. The private pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was owned by Volux Aviation LLC, and operated by the private pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane departed from Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP), Pompano Beach, Florida, at 0932 and was destined for Ocean Reef Club Airport (07FA), Key Largo, Florida.

While flying south along the shoreline, the pilot contacted the air traffic control tower at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and requested to fly through the tower's airspace below 500 ft above ground level. The air traffic controller approved the request but advised the pilot of "heavy precipitation at the 12 o'clock position and 4 miles ahead" and stated, "you should turn left and go off shore 3 miles to avoid the thunderstorm." The pilot acknowledged the communication, and 3 minutes later, the pilot reported, "I am turning back to the north." The air traffic controller approved the turn, and no further communications were received from the airplane.

Review of radar and GPS data that were downloaded from a portable GPS receiver, revealed that the pilot did not turn left and fly offshore as the air traffic controller advised. The data showed that the airplane instead maintained a southerly heading. The airplanes final GPS-derived position was recorded at 0950, with the airplane at a GPS altitude of 440 feet, a groundspeed of 85 knots, and tracking southbound. About 0951, when the pilot advised the controller that he was turning around and heading north, and when the airplane was about 3 miles east of FLL, radar contact was lost at a reported altitude of 200 feet with the airplane tracking eastbound. A search was initiated, and the airplane wreckage was located about 2 miles east of the shoreline submerged in the Atlantic Ocean in about 15 ft of water.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on July 6, 2015. At that time, he reported a total flight experience of 795 hours. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed that he had accumulated a total of 818.4 hours of flight experience before the accident flight, and had flown 3.5 hours in the previous 90 days.



AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

According to FAA and aircraft maintenance records, the airplane was issued an airworthiness certificate on December 13, 1978. It was powered by a Lycoming O-320-H2AD engine that was driving a McCauley propeller. According to maintenance records, the most recent annual inspection was completed on February 16, 2016, at a total time in service of 5,047.8 hours. At that time, the engine had accumulated 38.3 hours since major overhaul. At the time of the accident, the airplane had flown about 105 hours since the last annual inspection.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

There was no record of the pilot receiving any preflight weather briefing from flight service or a direct user access terminal.

At 0953, FLL reported wind from 150° at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles in light rain, scattered clouds at 1,500 ft and 6,000 ft, ceiling broken at 10,000 ft, broken clouds at 25,000 ft, temperature 27°C, dew point temperature 23°C, and altimeter 30.06 inches of Hg. The remarks section of the observation stated that rain began at 0952, and there were cumulonimbus clouds overhead through the north and from the west to northwest moving northeast. A thunderstorm was reported at FLL at 0956 with occasional in-cloud lightning to the north. The thunderstorm ended at 1023 with 0.01 inch of rain reported at the airport and with no significant change in flight conditions or wind gusts.

The National Weather Service Miami (KAMX) Weather Surveillance Radar – 1988, Doppler (WSR-88D) was operating in the severe storm precipitation mode surrounding the time of the accident. KAMX WSR-88D composite reflectivity images at 0938, 0943, 0948, and 0953 depicted a band of heavy-to-extreme intensity echoes along the southeast Florida coast and immediately east of FLL during the period, with the echoes in the immediate vicinity of the accident site reaching maximum intensity and then decreasing in intensity with time and moving north-northeastward. The lowest 0.5°-elevation scan depicted the conditions immediately above the airplane between 870 to 3,220 ft and depicted echoes between 40 to 52 dBZ (heavy-to-extreme intensity). Overlaying the airplane's GPS track on the 0953 0.5°-base reflectivity image (see figure 1) indicated that the airplane traveled into a small but intense reflectivity core of 51dBZ (extreme intensity) precipitation.

Figure 1 - KAMX WSR-88D Composite Reflectivity Image at 0953 with the airplane's 0950 GPS-derived position superimposed in magenta.



WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The airplane was recovered from the water and examined. The left and right wings were separated from the fuselage at their roots and exhibited aft crushing along their leading edges. Flight control cable continuity was established from the cockpit area to all flight control surfaces. The measurement of the elevator trim actuator corresponded to a nose-down trim. Engine valve train continuity was verified, and thumb compression on all cylinders was established by rotating the propeller. All flight control surfaces remained at least partially attached to their respective attachment points. The flaps were in the "up" position. Both fuel tanks were breeched and exhibited signs of hydraulic deformation. The left main landing gear was separated from the fuselage. All seats were separated from their mounting points.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The Broward County Medical Examiner, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, performed an autopsy on the pilot by. The autopsy findings included "multiple blunt force injuries."


The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted forensic toxicology on specimens from the pilot. The toxicology report stated that no carbon monoxide was detected in the blood, and no drugs were detected in the urine.


Frederick Ivory Gautzsch Jr. (right)


NTSB Identification: ERA16FA309
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 03, 2016 in Hollywood, FL
Aircraft: CESSNA 172, registration: N6091E
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On September 3, 2016 about 0952 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6091E, was destroyed when it impacted the Atlantic Ocean, while maneuvering near Hollywood, Florida. The private pilot and pilot rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane departed from Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP), Pompano Beach, Florida, and was destined for Ocean Reef Club Airport (07FA), Key Largo, Florida. The airplane was owned by Volux Aviation LLC, and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

While transitioning along the shoreline, the pilot contacted air traffic control and requested to fly below 500 feet above ground level. The air traffic controller approved the request but advised the pilot of "heavy Precipitation at the 12 o'clock position and 4 miles ahead," and further stated "you should turn left and go off shore 3 miles to avoid the thunderstorm." The pilot acknowledged the communication by stating "roger" and 3 minutes later the pilot reported "I am turning back to the north." The air traffic controller approved the turn and no further communications were received from the accident airplane.

The wreckage was subsequently located about 2 miles east of the Hollywood shoreline, submerged in the Atlantic Ocean in about 15 feet of water. The airplane was recovered and the wings exhibited accordion crushing from leading edge to trailing edge. Flight control cable continuity was established from the cockpit area to all flight control surfaces. The measurement of the elevator trim actuator corresponded to a nose-down trim. Engine valve train continuity was verified and thumb compression was established by rotating the propeller.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration third-class medical certificate was issued on July 6, 2015. At that time, he reported a total flight experience of 795 hours.
Frederick Ivory Gautzsch Jr.
 Boca Raton, Florida 
Nov 11, 1942 - Sep 3, 2016

Robert Chartrand 
February 08, 1950 - September 03, 2016
Resident of La Salle, Quebec, Canada


The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident 

Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office;  Miami, Florida
Lycoming; Atlanta, Georgia
Textron; Wichita, Kansas 

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Volux Aviation LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N6091E

NTSB Identification: ERA16FA309 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 03, 2016 in Hollywood, FL
Aircraft: CESSNA 172, registration: N6091E
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On September 3, 2016, about 0950 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6091E, was destroyed when it impacted the Atlantic Ocean while maneuvering near Hollywood, Florida. The private pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was owned by Volux Aviation LLC, and operated by the private pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane departed from Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP), Pompano Beach, Florida, at 0932 and was destined for Ocean Reef Club Airport (07FA), Key Largo, Florida.

While flying south along the shoreline, the pilot contacted the air traffic control tower at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and requested to fly through the tower's airspace below 500 ft above ground level. The air traffic controller approved the request but advised the pilot of "heavy precipitation at the 12 o'clock position and 4 miles ahead" and stated, "you should turn left and go off shore 3 miles to avoid the thunderstorm." The pilot acknowledged the communication, and 3 minutes later, the pilot reported, "I am turning back to the north." The air traffic controller approved the turn, and no further communications were received from the airplane.

Review of radar and GPS data that were downloaded from a portable GPS receiver, revealed that the pilot did not turn left and fly offshore as the air traffic controller advised. The data showed that the airplane instead maintained a southerly heading. The airplanes final GPS-derived position was recorded at 0950, with the airplane at a GPS altitude of 440 feet, a groundspeed of 85 knots, and tracking southbound. About 0951, when the pilot advised the controller that he was turning around and heading north, and when the airplane was about 3 miles east of FLL, radar contact was lost at a reported altitude of 200 feet with the airplane tracking eastbound. A search was initiated, and the airplane wreckage was located about 2 miles east of the shoreline submerged in the Atlantic Ocean in about 15 ft of water.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on July 6, 2015. At that time, he reported a total flight experience of 795 hours. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed that he had accumulated a total of 818.4 hours of flight experience before the accident flight, and had flown 3.5 hours in the previous 90 days.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

According to FAA and aircraft maintenance records, the airplane was issued an airworthiness certificate on December 13, 1978. It was powered by a Lycoming O-320-H2AD engine that was driving a McCauley propeller. According to maintenance records, the most recent annual inspection was completed on February 16, 2016, at a total time in service of 5,047.8 hours. At that time, the engine had accumulated 38.3 hours since major overhaul. At the time of the accident, the airplane had flown about 105 hours since the last annual inspection.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

There was no record of the pilot receiving any preflight weather briefing from flight service or a direct user access terminal.

At 0953, FLL reported wind from 150° at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles in light rain, scattered clouds at 1,500 ft and 6,000 ft, ceiling broken at 10,000 ft, broken clouds at 25,000 ft, temperature 27°C, dew point temperature 23°C, and altimeter 30.06 inches of Hg. The remarks section of the observation stated that rain began at 0952, and there were cumulonimbus clouds overhead through the north and from the west to northwest moving northeast. A thunderstorm was reported at FLL at 0956 with occasional in-cloud lightning to the north. The thunderstorm ended at 1023 with 0.01 inch of rain reported at the airport and with no significant change in flight conditions or wind gusts.

The National Weather Service Miami (KAMX) Weather Surveillance Radar – 1988, Doppler (WSR-88D) was operating in the severe storm precipitation mode surrounding the time of the accident. KAMX WSR-88D composite reflectivity images at 0938, 0943, 0948, and 0953 depicted a band of heavy-to-extreme intensity echoes along the southeast Florida coast and immediately east of FLL during the period, with the echoes in the immediate vicinity of the accident site reaching maximum intensity and then decreasing in intensity with time and moving north-northeastward. The lowest 0.5°-elevation scan depicted the conditions immediately above the airplane between 870 to 3,220 ft and depicted echoes between 40 to 52 dBZ (heavy-to-extreme intensity). Overlaying the airplane's GPS track on the 0953 0.5°-base reflectivity image (see figure 1) indicated that the airplane traveled into a small but intense reflectivity core of 51dBZ (extreme intensity) precipitation.

Figure 1 - KAMX WSR-88D Composite Reflectivity Image at 0953 with the airplane's 0950 GPS-derived position superimposed in magenta.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The airplane was recovered from the water and examined. The left and right wings were separated from the fuselage at their roots and exhibited aft crushing along their leading edges. Flight control cable continuity was established from the cockpit area to all flight control surfaces. The measurement of the elevator trim actuator corresponded to a nose-down trim. Engine valve train continuity was verified, and thumb compression on all cylinders was established by rotating the propeller. All flight control surfaces remained at least partially attached to their respective attachment points. The flaps were in the "up" position. Both fuel tanks were breeched and exhibited signs of hydraulic deformation. The left main landing gear was separated from the fuselage. All seats were separated from their mounting points.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The Broward County Medical Examiner, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, performed an autopsy on the pilot by. The autopsy findings included "multiple blunt force injuries."


The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted forensic toxicology on specimens from the pilot. The toxicology report stated that no carbon monoxide was detected in the blood, and no drugs were detected in the urine.

NTSB Identification: ERA16FA309
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, September 03, 2016 in Hollywood, FL
Aircraft: CESSNA 172, registration: N6091E
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On September 3, 2016 about 0952 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6091E, was destroyed when it impacted the Atlantic Ocean, while maneuvering near Hollywood, Florida. The private pilot and pilot rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane departed from Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP), Pompano Beach, Florida, and was destined for Ocean Reef Club Airport (07FA), Key Largo, Florida. The airplane was owned by Volux Aviation LLC, and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

While transitioning along the shoreline, the pilot contacted air traffic control and requested to fly below 500 feet above ground level. The air traffic controller approved the request but advised the pilot of "heavy Precipitation at the 12 o'clock position and 4 miles ahead," and further stated "you should turn left and go off shore 3 miles to avoid the thunderstorm." The pilot acknowledged the communication by stating "roger" and 3 minutes later the pilot reported "I am turning back to the north." The air traffic controller approved the turn and no further communications were received from the accident airplane.

The wreckage was subsequently located about 2 miles east of the Hollywood shoreline, submerged in the Atlantic Ocean in about 15 feet of water. The airplane was recovered and the wings exhibited accordion crushing from leading edge to trailing edge. Flight control cable continuity was established from the cockpit area to all flight control surfaces. The measurement of the elevator trim actuator corresponded to a nose-down trim. Engine valve train continuity was verified and thumb compression was established by rotating the propeller.


The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration third-class medical certificate was issued on July 6, 2015. At that time, he reported a total flight experience of 795 hours.

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov,  and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.


The Broward Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday identified the two men who died in a plane crash off the coast of Dania Beach over the weekend.

Frederick Gautzsch, Jr., 73, of Boca Raton and Robert Chartrand, 66, of LaSalle, Quebec, left Pompano Beach Airpark Saturday morning in a rented single-engine Cessna.

The men, who were both pilots, rented the plane from Paul Kramer’s Learn to Fly Center, BSO said. Gautzsch had control of the plane as they headed to Ocean Reef Club’s private airport in Key Largo, according to BSO.

But sometime before 10 a.m., the small plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, about one mile north of the Dania Beach Pier, and just east of the south runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

BSO crews responded after the air traffic control tower advised them of a downed plane. Rescuers spotted an oil slick and the plane in about 20 feet of water.

Both men, who died on impact, were found floating about 200 yards north of the crash site, according to BSO.


The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.




Salvage crews on Sunday raised the wreckage of a Cessna 172 in which two people were killed when the plane crashed into the Atlantic off the coast of Dania Beach.

After divers in the water attached inflated orange floats to the plane, in two pieces, the wreckage was lifted by a crane onto the stern of a tow boat. The wreckage was deposited on the ship, which headed north toward Port Everglades.

The plane went down in 40 feet of water about 10 a.m. Saturday about 200 yards offshore, authorities said.

First responders found the small plane and the bodies of two people, according to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles.

The agency's fire-rescue units at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport were notified of the downed plane minutes before 10 a.m.

A Broward Sheriff's helicopter located the wreckage near the coastline where an oil slick and debris had become visible from the air, Jachles said. Within minutes, two bodies were spotted north of the wreckage, he said.

The two persons who died have not been identified.


Story and video:   http://www.sun-sentinel.com



A crashed Cessna 172 is seen about 40 ft underwater off Dania Beach. 



BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. - Authorities found two dead after a small plane crashed about a mile south of Port Everglades, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles reported an air rescue helicopter pilot located the two victims.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen reported a Cessna 172 aircraft "ditched" in the Atlantic Ocean east of Fort Lauderdale after flying southbound over the shoreline. 

The plane -- registered to Volux Aviation --  departed from Pompano Beach Airpark, 1001 NE 10th St.

In a LiveATC archived call, the pilot said he was headed to Ocean Reef in Key Largo. He was in communication with the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport's tower control.

A woman with FLL tower control warned him of heavy rain. The pilot later reported changing his course to fly back north. 

Air and marine units from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife worked with the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The U.S. Coast Guard's Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew was involved in the search until about 1:45 p.m. 

The National Transportation Safety Board was leading the investigation, according to the Coast Guard. 

Source:   http://www.local10.com




Two people were killed in a plane crash off the Dania Beach coast Saturday morning, authorities said.

First responders found the downed small plane and the bodies of two people, according to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles.

The wreckage was found about 200 yards offshore, submerged in about 40 feet of water, he said. The agency's fire-rescue units at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport were notified of the downed plane minutes before 10 a.m.

A BSO helicopter found the wreckage near the coastline where an oil slick and debris had become visible from the air, Jachles said. Within minutes, two bodies were spotted north of the wreckage, he said.

Authorities continued search and rescue efforts while attempting to learn whether more passengers had been aboard the four-occupant aircraft before crashing, Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Kelley of the U.S. Coast Guard said.

By about 1:45 p.m., officials confirmed there had been two only people on board and ceased rescue operations. The identities of the victims were not immediately known.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen described the aircraft as a Cessna 172 that was flying south along Broward County's shoreline.

Officials said the aircraft left Pompano Beach Airpark at about 8:30 a.m. and multiple distress calls came in shortly before 10 a.m., according to Kelley. Authorities did not say what caused the plane's occupants to call for help.

Details of the plane's flight plan, or where it was registered, were unknown.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue also assisted in rescue efforts by land, water and air. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the crash.

"It's a tough day for any agency to come and address the media obviously on a fatality," Kelley said. "Our hearts go out to the families of these victims."

Source:  http://www.sun-sentinel.com

DANIA BEACH (CBSMiami) — Two people were found deceased following a plane crash that went down in the ocean off Dania Beach.

Just after 10 a.m. Saturday, Broward Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol said the small Cessna crashed about two miles east of the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, along 100 N. Beach Rd.

About an hour later, a Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue aircraft located wreckage and two people roughly one and a half miles south of Port Everglades. They were transferred to Station Fort Lauderdale and pronounced deceased.

“A Broward Sheriff’s Air Rescue helicopter was the first out there, over the ocean,” said Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Mike Jachles. “There was some bad weather a couple miles out, so they were actually diverted from that bad weather. Diverted towards the coast line, when they did encounter what looked like an oil slick and then the small debris field. They confirmed they located the wreckage and the plane was located approximately 200 yards offshore in about 40 feet of water.”

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the plane took off from Pompano around 8:30 a.m. and the first distress calls were received around 10 a.m.

A search was suspended after confirming that there weren’t other passengers aboard the plane.

A Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Department of Fire and Rescue, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine units, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Department and Seatow also assisted with the search.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation.

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