Small Plane Breaks Apart Over Central Florida, Killing 6

[News_Editor]

Small plane breaks apart over central Florida, killing 6 < br />

2012-06-08 18:09:44 GMT+7 (ICT)

LAKE WALES, FLORIDA (BNO NEWS) -- A small plane carrying a family of six broke apart over central Florida on Thursday afternoon and crashed in a remote area, killing everyone on board, local authorities and federal officials said. The cause was not immediately known.

The accident happened at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time on Thursday when the single-turboprop, fixed-wing aircraft began to break apart in mid-air over southeast Polk County before crashing in a swampy area, in the vicinity of Lake Wales. There were a total of six people on board, mostly children.

Investigators believe the 2006 Pilatus PC-12/47 was traveling at an altitude of approximately 26,000 feet (7.9 kilometers) when it began to experience trouble. "Parts of the aircraft have been located as far as 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from the crash site," said Polk County Sheriff's Office spokesman Scott Wilder. "It is apparent that parts of the aircraft separated before the crash."

Deputies were able to reach the remote and uninhabited area by helicopter, but found no survivors. "It was immediately clear that there were no survivors of the crash," Wilder said. He said the bodies of two adults and three children were located, and detectives were still searching the area for the remains of the fourth child.

The victims, all from Kansas, were identified as 45-year-old pilot and businessman Ronald Bramlage, his wife, 43-year-old Rebecca Bramlage, and their four children who were aged between 8 and 15. The aircraft, which was previously owned by attorney Todd Macoluso and used to transport former murder suspect Casey Anthony after her release, was currently owned by Roadside Ventures, LLC in Junction City, Kansas.

Wilder said the aircraft had departed Treasure Cay Airport in the northern Bahamas and made a brief stop to clear customs at the St. Lucie County International Airport in Fort Pierce, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of Lake Wales. The crash happened while the family was en-route to Junction City in Kansas.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be leading the investigation into the cause of the crash. Also investigating are the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the aircraft manufacturer and the engine manufacturer.

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