Debris from the tragic Oconee County plane crash.
(Photo from WNDU)
Update: According to USA Aircraft Registration Details the plane is reportedly registered to Smith Family Aviation LLC of Warsaw.
According to a former Warsaw City Official, the plane was registered to Warsaw Councilman Charlie Smith. Smith, his son Scott, Tony Elliot and former Tippecanoe Valley Coach Scott Bibler reportedly perished in the crash on their way to attend the Notre Dame game against Clemson.
An announcement was made at the end of the Warsaw Community High School football game against Wawasee High School, by WCS head coach Phil Jensen to members of the football team and community in reference to the tragedy.
Charlie Smith was elected on the City Council and then served on the aviation board, Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety and Redevelopment commission as a representative of Warsaw City Council.
Officials report the plane was headed to an airport in Clemson, S.C., where a Notre Dame game is to take place, when air traffic controllers lost contact with the flight.
Reportedly, The Federal Aviation Administration received a mayday transmission at 3:15 p.m. The plane left from Warsaw Municipal Airport at 11:59 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive at Oconee Regional at 3:17 p.m. The crash occurred just one mile away from its destination, which is a five-minute drive to Clemson University’s Football stadium.
According to Fox 28, at 5:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, debris from a reported plane crashed was located both on land and in the water at Lake Hartwell, located near the Georgia and South Carolina state line. The plane, which had a registration number of N782TM, is reportedly registered to a Warsaw plane.
Law enforcement officials revealed to FOX Carolina a small plane had crashed into the South Carolina Lake, killing four individuals onboard.
Responders reportedly searched for the crash after receiving witness reports stating the plane had crashed near the state line. Fox 28 reports the crash took place in a remote area of the lake and much of the rescue work was conducted via boat.
The Oconee County Regional Airport confirmed that a distress call was made from someone aboard a small plane before the crash reports Fox 28.
