Kenova, WVA small plane crashed just after 1pm Friday, killing six people onboard. Investigators say the plane was critically low on fuel and the pilot was flying visually, meaning he didn't have a flight plan—so far there is no information about the flight's origin or destination. One report says the plane hit a power line before crashing less than two miles from the Tri-State Airport near the Ohio and Kentucky state lines.
One eyewitness said the plane was "flying way too low…so low I could have thrown a rock up and hit the bottom of the plane."
The twin-engine Piper Seneca PA-34-200T was built in 1975. It was registered to Wesvin Inc., by way of its agent Yacht Registry Ltd. of Wilmington, Del. The registry company would not disclose information about Wesvin and no telephone listing was found.
FAA representative Arlene Salac said the pilot radioed Mayday because of low fuel. Air traffic responded to the distress call and asked if the pilot could use his instruments. He answered in the affirmative, and air traffic control tracked the plane and provided assistance but only for a few minutes; after that, communication was lost.
Volunteer firefighters from Lavalette, Ceredo, Kenova and Wayne, the England Hill Volunteer Fire Department in Kentucky and West Virginia State Police and Wayne County Sheriff's Office were all on the scene of the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to announce a press conference sometime today.