Five people are confirmed dead after a small twin-engine plane crashes in Lafayette, just over two miles from Lafayette Regional Airport Saturday morning. The plane landed in a post office parking lot, crashing into a car and skidding into a field. Six people were on board the plane at the time of the crash. Acadian Ambulance service reports they have transported a total of four patients to hospitals, one who was on board the aircraft and three who were on the ground. The cause of the crash is under investigation. According to Flightaware.com, the aircraft is owned by Cheyenne Partners and was en route to an Atlanta area airport. The plane took off from Lafayette at 9:20 AM.
UPDATE (2:05 PM 12-28-19)
It is confirmed that one of the five victims was Louisiana sports reporter Carley McCord, daughter-in-law of LSU offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger. McCord had served as a sports radio host on 100.7 the Tiger and 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge, along with stints for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, and Cox Sports Television for the Pelicans and Saints. Her husband, Steve Ensminger Jr., confirmed the report.
Ensminger is coaching LSU in Atlanta this afternoon for the Peach Bowl matchup against Oklahoma at 3 PM.
UPDATE (2:45 PM 12-28-19)
The other victims in the crash have been identified.
The plane’s pilot, 51-year-old Ian Biggs.
59-year-old Robert Crisp II
51-year-old Gretchen Vincent
15-year-old Michael Vincent
A surviving plane passenger, 37-year-old Wade Berzas, remains in critical condition.
UPDATE (1:30PM 12-29-19)
Officials say the investigation into what caused the crash could be problematic as the plane did not have the customary onboard flight data recorder. The only information we do have is that the plane climbed to 900 feet then began a left descending turn, before dipping below 700 feet, which is considered below the minimum safe altitude before hitting a powerline. No emergency distress call was made, and no contact was had with ground-based flight crew prior to the incident.
Authorities now believe a full investigation could take weeks.
Acadian Ambulance responded to the crash of a small civilian airplane in Lafayette (La) this morning and transported two patients to a local hospital. pic.twitter.com/f0SKqNJI7V
— Acadian Ambulance (@AcadianNews) December 28, 2019
