MILLINGTON, Tenn. — A cargo plane that took off from a Millington airport crashed in Toledo, Ohio, Wednesday, in a fiery wreck that killed both people aboard the aircraft, authorities said.
The victims were identified as 72-year-old Douglas Taylor and 69-year-old Donald Peterson Sr., both of Laredo, Texas.
The plane went down at a business property filled with truck cabs and trailers while no one was there, and missed the nearby Ohio Turnpike.
Roy Remington, executive director of Millington-Memphis Airport, said the plane was carrying auto parts from Laredo, Texas and stopped in Millington to refuel on its way to Ohio.
“We don’t know them personally, but obviously, they are a customer of ours. We’ve taken care of them every time they’ve been here, and this is just a routine stop,” Remington said.
The Convair 440 landed in Millington at 10:10 p.m., took on 700 gallons of fuel and departed at 11:13 pm., he said.
“Most importantly, we feel for the families,” Remington said. “There were two pilots, a captain and co-pilot, and our thoughts go out to them, and I hope they find peace at this time.”
Just last month, this particular aircraft was registered to a Douglas R. Taylor in Laredo, Texas, although Remington said it’s not known if that person was on the flight.
The NTSB is in charge of investigating. Remington said the agency will look at pilot records, airport maintenance records, the operators, the airports that were the takeoff and landing destinations and fuel samples.
He said investigations typically take 12 months to complete a report but NTSB will release a summary finding within the first 30-60 days.
“You want to make sure that fuel quantity and quality on board that aircraft was appropriate for that flight,” Remington said. “The aircraft obviously made it all the way to the Toledo Express Airport. So, typically if there any problems with fuel that would show up much sooner.”
By midmorning in Toledo, no flames were visible as firefighters occasionally sprayed water on the smoldering wreckage. The debris was contained mainly to the auto business, where several trailers were mangled and burned.
The port authority’s manager of airline affairs, Joe Rotterdam, said officials couldn’t yet confirm whether any distress call was made from the aircraft.
Port authority officials said no further details were immediately available about the people who died or the plane’s owner.
Rotterdam said it’s not clear if there is a so-called black box with recorded data about the flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the Ohio State Highway Patrol were helping with the investigation.
Toledo Express Airport remained open.
