Investigation Continues Into Plane Crash That Killed 3 Marylanders

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Federal investigators are looking into a plane crash that killed three Marylanders in Pennsylvania. Witnesses say they saw something alarming just before the small plane went down at a popular resort.

Jessica Kartalija has more.

There are only charred remains of the Beechcraft Bonanza that erupted into flames, crashing a few hundred yards from the runway at Nemacolin Woodlands, where it had just taken off.

Investigators say a door malfunctioned and came off the plane, hitting a wing and sending the aircraft into trees along Nemacolin Woodslands Golf Course.

"I just saw a plane leaving; it was just ordinary routine. I just happened to glance and seen it going down the runway," said John Ackerman, whose back deck overlooks the runway. "And when I come back, I see my wife says two firetrucks just left. A couple of volunteer guys pass me on the road. And we wondered what was going on; we thought it was just a regular fire. And then we found out 15 minutes after that--that was around 3 o'clock, 3:30--that there was a plane down."

Farmington Fire Chief Brian Van Sickle was hunting nearby when he heard strange noises.

"I didn't know what it was at first, but then when the woods filled with white smoke and we could hear bystanders hollering, we just shifted from the hunting mode into the fire and rescue mode," Van Sickle said.

Pilot Terry Carlson and 26-year-old Jason Williams died at the scene. The pilot's son, 25-year-old Erick Carlson, suffered serious burns and later died at the hospital.

Witnesses say they saw the plane's landing gear go up, but then back down, indicating the pilot was likely trying to turn the plane around.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.