The private plane that came apart over Syosset last week suffered a mechanical failure, causing an in-flight breakup that sent the aircraft and its three passengers crashing to the ground, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The plane, a 43-year-old Beech BE35, experienced the catastrophic failure at approximately 7,000 feet and crashed in the vicinity of Southwoods and Cold Spring roads on May 3 at 3:45 p.m. Though residents reported seeing debris falling from the sky, the NTSB said there is no evidence that an explosion fell the aircraft.
Police said the plane took off from North Myrtle Beach, SC, and was headed to Plainfield, CT. According to published reports in the Hartford Courant, the victims were race car driver David Berube, 66, his girlfriend Dana Parenteau, 49, and Benjamin Bridges, 32. All victims are from Bristol, CT. The Courant said Berube, 66, and his two passengers were leaving a wedding in South Carolina and were heading home to Connecticut.
Authorities said the three bodies and the parts of the plane were found in a “widespread area,” approximately one-third of a mile. One body was found in the parking lot of Long Island High School for the Arts, a second body was found west of that in the woods and the third body was discovered approximately 50 yards from the second body in Oyster Bay Cove.
