WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The National Transportation Safety Board released new details and one correction on Thursday for its ongoing investigation into two planes that collided and killed four people earlier this week.
In a new detail, transportation officials said one of the pilots was making a left descending turn when the plane came nose-to-nose with the second plane. They said the pilot of the second plane was attempting to make an evasive maneuver.
“There are regulations regarding the use of radios in this airspace it is not required that a pilot communicate or even have a radio in this airspace,” said Air safety investigator Lynn Spencer.
Spencer also corrected initial information that was given about the Cherokee Piper plane practicing "touch a-and-go" maneuvers when the crash happened. She said they it was learned that the plane did one full-stop landing and two go-around maneuvers.
Earlier on Thursday, crews recovered most of the Cherokee Piper plane. They are still looking to recover the plane’s right wing. On Wednesday, the Piper J-3 Cub was removed from the water.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office identified all four people who died in the crash. They said the victims are 24-year-old pilot Faith Irene Baker, 19-year-old Polk State College student Zachary Mace, 67-year-old Randall Elbert, and 78-year-old Louis DeFazio.
10 Tampa Bay spoke to staff at Mace’s former school Summerlin Academy. “He was just an amazing person who knew from day one what he wanted to do in life,” said Dr. Cynthia Downing.
National Transportation Safety Board officials say the wreckage is being taken to a facility in Jacksonville where it will be further examined.
Officials are asking for any witnesses to contact them, click here for more information.