Rockbridge Co., VA - Federal aviation officials in Raphine are still wrapping up a field investigation into that deadly weekend plane crash. We're hearing about the moments leading up to the crash.

According to air traffic controllers, the pilot requested an update on the weather about a half hour before the crash.

You'll remember Sunday was rainy across most of Central Virginia. At 9:53 a.m., 13 minutes before the plane went down, the pilot radioed that he would be changing course to avoid weather. Shortly after, he reported his plane was beginning a descent.

Investigators are working to find out what happened next. And that job will not be easy.

Tim Montville with the National Transportation Safety Board said, "From the fuselage perspective, we don't have anything from the front of the plane to almost the back of the tail. It's fragmented and the wings are fragmented. There's nothing left, so piecing together a part and trying to determine where it fits in the scheme when there are thousands of pieces... that takes time, but it can be done."

Investigators say four people were on board. As we've reported, the plane was owned by Daniel Dorsch - a pilot and former restaurant mogul from Tampa Florida. His son reportedly told news outlets there that Daniel's wife Cyndie was also on the plane.

We've taken calls from a man in Texas who says his daughter, Jenny Brown, was on board as well. Brown worked for Daniel Dorsch.

Investigators in Tampa have reportedly taken DNA samples from one of her children to confirm that she was on board.

And reports out of Tampa say 23-year-old Stepan Matkowski , a family friend of  the Dorsch's, was also on board. We'll bring you more as it becomes available.

Photo of Daniel Dorsch's plane taken in 2006 (from JetPhotos.net)

 

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