By Erika Hernandez
A couple and their two children, originally from Alabama, died after the small plane in which they were traveling crashed near an airport in Union County, South Carolina. The authorities are investigating the causes of the accident.
The victims were identified as James Tony Moffatt, 60; his wife, Leasa Moffatt, 61; and his sons Andrew Moffatt, 30, and William Moffatt, 28, according to information reported by Everyday Mail.
The group was traveling from Raleigh-Durham to Huntsville, where they resided.
Pre-stop and crash of the aircraft
Before the accident, the family had made a brief stop to refuel. Minutes after resuming flight, the aircraft—a single-engine Mooney M20P model—came down. in a wooded area near the local airport.
Authorities indicated that the impact occurred shortly after takeoff, without the cause having yet been determined.
The location of the accident, in an area with difficult access, forced rescue teams to use heavy machinery to reach the wreckage of the plane and recover the bodies.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Authorities are seeking to determine whether mechanical, human or environmental factors influenced the accident.
It was confirmed that the father of the family was piloting the aircraft and that he had experience as an amateur pilot.
The news generated multiple expressions of regret in the Huntsville community, where the family is widely known.
Sports and educational organizations highlighted their active participation. The father was a coach on youth teams, while his children were also part of community programs.
Friends and relatives described the family as united and committed, especially highlighting the mother’s warm personality, remembered for her closeness and positive attitude.
The accident has left a deep mark on those who knew the family, while authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the accident.
So far, no additional details have been provided about the causes of the accident or possible failures in the aircraft.
Keep reading:
– A Georgia judge is found dead on his last day of office.
– An Alabama woman is arrested for the death of her two children, one of them missing for months.
–Alabama military veteran stabbed to death on New Year’s Day
