GREENFIELD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Authorities have identified the three people killed in a twin-engine plane crash in western Massachusetts Sunday.
William Hampton, 68, of Indian Orchard, Massachusetts; Chad Davidson, 29, of Woodstock, Connecticut; and Fredrika Ballard, 53, of Southwick, Massachusetts died in the crash, State Police say.
Ballard owned the Fly Lugu Flight School, Hampton was a flight instructor for Fly Lugu, and Davidson was a student pilot.
State Police say the plane—a Beechcraft 55 Baron Twin-Piston owned by the Fly Lugu school—departed from Barnes Airport in Westfield shortly after 11 a.m.
Greenfield Police reported receiving 911 calls around 11:30 a.m. from dogwalkers in Leyden and Greenfield who said they saw a plane that was about to crash.
At around 12:30 p.m., responders reached the crash site, which was in the Leyden Wildlife Area on the Greenfield-Leyden border, officials say.
The three occupants inside the plane were determined to be deceased, State Police say.
Local authorities warned the public to stay away from the crash site, where State Police, Greenfield Police, and Greenfield Fire and EMS were on scene.
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, with the Federal Aviation Administration assisting.
This is an ongoing story.
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