SCIOTO COUNTY, Ohio — Two people have been killed in a plane crash near Portsmouth.
According to officials, the crash occurred just before 11 a.m. on Friday after 9-1-1 callers reported seeing smoke billowing from the woods near the Elks Country Club along route 73 in McDermott. While 9-1-1 calls were coming in, air traffic control from nearby Indianapolis was also calling the Scioto County Sheriff’s office to report they had lost contact and radar with a small private plane.
A Highway Patrol helicopter was called to the area to help locate the scene. When first responders went to the area they found a plane down with no survivors. Due to the rocky terrain of the mountains where the crash is located, fire trucks were unable to get hoses and water to the burning aircraft. As a result, firefighters were toting fire extinguishers up the hill to put out the blaze.
“The crash location is in a wooded area adjacent to State Route 104 near the Intersection of State Route 73,” said Staff Lieutenant Craig S. Cvetan with the Ohio Highway Patrol.
The plane was identified by Cvetan as a 2015 Lancair Evolution. The aircraft is owned by Davlor Aircraft Leasing, LLC, out of Bellefontaine, according to business records on file with the state. The flight reportedly originated in Bellefontaine and was headed to Charleston, South Carolina. Officials confirm the pilot, 64-year-old David Lewis James, and one passenger, 64-year-old Lori Denise James both of Bellefontaine, were killed; other outlets reporting three people were on board are incorrect, officials said. According to Lancair, the company that builds the plane, it is capable of carrying four people, including the pilot.
The plane was traveling at 25,000 feet and going 242 miles per hour at 10:45 a.m., according to flight records. A few minutes later, the speed started to slow down, the plane started to make a hard left turn, and began descending quickly, before crashing.
The NTSB and FAA are on their way to the scene,