4 dead in the crash of a small flaming plane in PDK, according to firefighters



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Four people on board a plane that crashed and caught fire at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport on Friday afternoon were killed, the DeKalb Fire Department said.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a single-engine Cessna 210 crashed at PDK airport around 1:11 p.m.

The plane caught fire after crashing, and large flames and smoke were seen at the crash site.

The remains of a Cessna 210 after its crash at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport on October 8, 2021.

The remains of a Cessna 210 after its crash at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport on October 8, 2021. (FOX 5)

“It happened pretty quickly,” said photographer Keith Berry, who witnessed it. “And the fire, it turned and smoked for a second, and ignited.”

Berry, who is a professional photographer, often comes to the PDK to take pictures of the planes. The owner of Images By Keith was at the airport taking photos through the airport fence during a lunch break when he saw the plane descend.

“As you can see it crashed, it landed, and I don’t know if it was just a hard landing, but it flipped over and then it caught fire,” Berry said.

A plane crashes at PDK airport on October 8, 2021. (Chris Lucas)

Berry said he didn’t want to speculate on what might have happened, but he just knows he saw.

“The plane just arrived and landed and it bounced around a bit and when it bounced, that’s when it rolled over onto its side,” he said.

Berry said he didn’t even shoot as he arrived because he wasn’t convinced of what he was seeing.

Responders arrive at the scene of a plane crash at PDK airport. (Chris Lucas)

Steven Lemasters and his family were inside the Downwind Restaurant and Lounge which overlooks the airport runways when he looked outside to see the plane on fire.

“It was just interesting to see the shock build up and shock is the right answer because people were head-hitting… just stunned,” Lemasters said.

“My dad was actually the one who saw the movement out of the corner of his eye, he saw, what he realized was the plane was leaving the runway,” Lemasters said. “I wasn’t sure if it was taking off or landing, but as soon as I looked, the moment (the snap) flashed in, but it was already ablaze.”

Lemasters captured these flames on his cell phone.

“One of the craziest things was we didn’t hear anything and you know, all the engines around it in the airport, we thought we would have heard an explosion or something, but it was was very calm, ”Lemasters said. .

He said he initially thought it was an exercise, but the idea was quickly dismissed.

“Ultimately a family is going to get a call that they didn’t expect on a beautiful sunny Friday, he was probably there, I don’t know, he could have practiced flying. isn’t a call you’d expect, ”Lemasters said.

Lemasters said he and his family were frequent Downwind customers and said they had never seen anything like it.

“What was so tragic was that we watched it for a few minutes and obviously an incredibly large fire was going on with all that jet fuel that was involved, and we didn’t see anyone walk away from the plane. “said Lemasters. “I think that’s what broke everyone up.”

A flaming plane crash triggered a response to 2 alarms from the DeKalb Fire Department at the PDK on October 8, 2021.

A flaming plane crash triggered a response to 2 alarms from the DeKalb Fire Department at the PDK on October 8, 2021. (FOX 5)

PDK Airport was closed following the crash, FOX 5 confirmed.

The identities of those killed in the crash have not yet been released.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

Firefighters inspect the remains of a burnt down plane at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport on October 8, 2021.

Firefighters inspect the remains of a burnt down plane at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport on October 8, 2021. (FOX 5)

This story is breaking down. Check back for more details. If you have additional information, photos or video by email [email protected].

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