NTSB Investigating Deadly Small Plane Crash In Syosset

SYOSSET, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — The National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday was investigating a small plane crash on Long Island that left three people dead.

Investigators are trying to piece together what happened in the final moments before the plane broke apart mid-flight, scattering debris across a Syosset neighborhood Tuesday afternoon.

Officials said the pilot of the single-engine Beechcraft 35 aircraft told air traffic control that his plane was having instrument problems. Officials said that combined with Tuesday's low visibility was a disastrous combination.

"The best analogy I can give is driving in fog," said NTSB investigator Robert Gretz. "Driving in fog, you need your lights, you need your instruments."

The plane was traveling from Myrtle Beach, North Carolina to Plainville, Connecticut at the time of the crash.

Minutes after the pilot radioed for help, the aircraft began to fall, leaving a trail of wreckage across two miles.

"It was a couple of big bangs and a moment later we saw everything starting to fall," said witness Cara Moranzoni.

Pieces of the wreckage were scattered around a wooded area, just feet away from the homes of neighbors Rich Cook and Leo Fampritsis.

"All that debris just flying all over here, just landing by our house --so close, so scary," Fampritsis said.

"My daughter was playing lacrosse, practicing lacrosse at the high school and she called me up hysterical., All I heard was '9-11 mommy, 9-11,' she wanted to know where we all were and I said, 'we're okay, what's going on?' and she said something is dropping from the sky mom," resident Rosa Belloli said.

People on the ground watched in disbelief as 911 dispatch fielded multiple calls. Three nearby schools were put on lockdown. Long Island High School for the Arts remained closed Wednesday as investigators continued their work on the grounds.

Pieces of the plane scattered across the four main accident sites including the Belloli's front yard and patio where there is a partial sleeve from a leather jacket. Investigators said they are stunned no one on the ground was hurt, CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported.

"It looked like a bunch of pieces of scrap metal just falling from the sky slowly, drifting down," said witness Ethan Seidner.

Two men and a woman on board were killed, officials said.

Late Wednesday, the medical examiner completed the three autopsies.

"We have tentatively identified the victims based primarily on the manifest and the ownership of the plane. we have been in touch with those families," Nassau County Police Department Chief Steven Skrynecki said.

The six-seat beech-craft was registered to David Berube, CBS2 reported. He was licensed to fly and land multi-engine plans and certified to navigate by instruments, according to the FAA.

The other victims have not yet been identified.