Investigators Return To Scene Of Plane Crash In SW Miami-Dade
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Thursday is day two in the six-month long investigation into what caused a twin turbo prop plane to crash just moments after takeoff from Miami Executive Airport.
All four people on board at the time of the accident were killed.
The plane crashed in the area of SW 144th Street and Krome Avenue around 2:45 p.m Wednesday.
The Beechcraft 1900 took off from Reliance Aviation at Miami Executive Airport, formerly known as Tamiami Airport.
NTSB said minutes after the Venezuelan-registered plane took off from, the pilot reported engine problems. According to the Federal Aviation Administration the pilot tried to turn around.
Bob Gretz, senior air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, arrived from New Jersey to asses the plane crash Thursday.
CLICK HERE to watch Natalia Zea's report
Gretz said Thursday that in his 16 years with the NTSB, this is only the second Beechcraft 1900 fatality he's worked.
The pilot had reported an engine problem before going down, Gretz confirmed.
One witness, who wouldn't release his name, said, "I could see it struggling to maintain its height. I could hear the engine roaring and it was trying to make it."
Investigators hope to move the wreckage by Thursday night to continue the six-month long investigation.
"Primary goal is documenting the wreckage before we move it," Gretz said.
NTSB, FAA and Fire investigators are all out here sifting through the debris and heavy equipment has been brought in to start cleaning up the charred wreckage scattered across. Gretz said 50-percent of the plane was engulfed in flames.
Radar data, the pilot's history, machine's history, and several other factors will be considered to determine the cause of the crash, Gretz said.
In about nine to 10 months a probable cause of the accident will likely be issued. In 10 days, however, Gretz said there will be a preliminary report.
Adriana and Macario Chirinos said the pilot of that plane was Raul Chirivella of Venezuela. Macario Chirinos said Chirivella was his best friend for more than 30-years.
"We spoke with him five minutes before he took off," Adriana Chirinos told CBS4's Lauren Pastrana on Wednesday.
The Chirinos said the plane was ultimately heading to Venezuela.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft took off from Miami Executive Airport, formerly Tamiami Airport, bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Chirinos said that was presumably a fuel stop before the crew would continue on to Caracas.
The Chirinos said Chirivella worked for that company and were here on business.
They identified two of the other victims as Roberto Cabaniel and Juan Carlos Betancourt.
One witness, who didn't want to be named, said Wednesday, "I could see it struggling to maintain its height. It was pitched like this and I could hear the engine roaring and it was trying to make it."
The plane was trying to make an emergency landing in a field when witnesses said, "that's when the plane spun around and struck that fence."
The fence bordered an elderly couple's property.
Clara Arcia, 89, and Feliberto Trujillo, 86 were outside eating a late lunch at the time of the crash.
Trujillo said he saw a lot of fire and a lot of explosions and that they could feel the heat and they saw the smoke fill their home for about 30 minutes.
When the plane went down, it also hit a Florida Power & Light power pole and brought down the power lines. FPL workers were on the scene as well.
Thursday they put in a new power pole and repaired the lines.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating.
