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Names Of Victims Released In Greene County Plane Crash Save Email Print
Posted: 2:01 PM May 8, 2008
Last Updated: 9:32 PM May 9, 2008
Reporter: Bill Wilson


A | A | A

Authorities say a Florida man and his wife were killed when their small plane crashed Thursday in a field in Greene County.

Dead is Mark Sobel and his wife, Joan Wilson, both who were 56-year-old. The Estero, Florida couple were the only people onboard.

The two died when their experimental aircraft crashed off of Oakdale Road, that's about six miles west of Snow Hill.

The plane crashed into a farm field several hundred feet from a residential area.

Witnesses tell WITN they saw the plane clip two trees before crashing. They also report seeing two people on fire from the waist down.

The FAA says the crash involved happened around 1:30 p.m.

Patty McQuillan, spokeswoman for the state Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, said emergency officials reported that the pilot said he had icing on the wings. The plane disappeared from radar and lost radio contact, she said.

The FAA says It was headed from Page Field in Fort Myers, Fla., to Hartford-Brainard Airport in Connecticut.

The FAA says the plane was a Lancair model IV-P, built in 2003. Lancair's website says that plane has a top speed of 330 miles per hour and can seat four people.

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Posted by: Elaine Location: Massachusetts on May 9, 2008 at 06:46 PM
I knew Mark and Joan. They were truly wonderful people.I am still in shock.My heart goes out to their family.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Anonymous on May 9, 2008 at 06:05 PM
THANK GOD MARK GOT THE PLANE AWAY FROM ANY POPULATED AREAS - SO RESTS A GREAT PILOT IN A WEARY WORLD. WE WILL ALL MISS YOU BOTH

Posted by: Mike Location: Leesburg on May 9, 2008 at 07:48 AM
Concerned: I'll get the tail number for you.

Posted by: Jim Location: Chesterfield County, Va. on May 9, 2008 at 07:23 AM
We had a small plane crash into a home here about two weeks ago killing the pilot and his father. A woman inside the home escaped but was severely burned and fighting for her life. My codolences go to the family of this one also.

Posted by: concerned Location: greenville on May 8, 2008 at 11:07 PM
after reading the comment by Mike, it sounds like it is NOT the aircraft that was in here the other day. would be nice to find out the tail number

Posted by: Mike Location: Leesburg,VA on May 8, 2008 at 09:21 PM
I was standing next to the air traffic controller that was working the aircraft when it happened. The plane was being worked by Washington Center in Leesburg, VA. Aircraft was on it's way to Conneticut from Florida. He was at 17,000 and reported light icing. Pilot did not appear to be in distress. The controller gave the a/c a lower altitude to get out of the icing and then we lost RADAR and radio communications. No distress call was ever recieved.

Posted by: concerned Location: greenville on May 8, 2008 at 08:34 PM
This may be the LIV-P that was in here at the airport 2 days ago. sure hope it doesnt turn out to be. regardless, my heart goes out to the two who perished and their families

Posted by: Anonymous on May 8, 2008 at 04:49 PM
I was out in the yard and heeard the engine make a load noise several times then a load thud,then I heard shine fire horn.I knew it must have been that plane

Posted by: mother of 3 Location: pink hill on May 8, 2008 at 03:27 PM
my heart goes out to the families that lost loved ones today.

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