2016 Northport plane crash
The 2016 Northport plane crash was a fatal aviation accident that occurred in a wooded area behind the farmer's market in Van de Graaff Park, in the vicinity of the Tuscaloosa Regional Airport in Northport on August 14, 2016.
The 1984 Piper PA-31 "Navajo" twin engine aircraft was owned by Jason Farese and registered to Oxford University Airport Charters LLC. The plane was 2-1/2 hours into a scheduled three-hour flight from Kissimmee Gateway Airport in Florida to Oxford-University Airport in Oxford, Mississippi. Farese, his wife, and four other passengers on board had attended a dentist's conference in Florida and were returning home to Mississippi.
As it neared Tuscaloosa, Farese reported having engine problems and issued a distress signal. He was attempting a landing on Runway 30 when the plane crashed into the trees. All aboard were pronounced dead and their bodies were sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery for death investigations. The victims were identified as Jason and Lea Farese; Michael and Kimberly Perry; and Austin and Angie Poole.
In May 2018 the National Transportation Safety Board reported their conclusion that fuel mismanagement was the apparent cause of the crash.
References
- Robinson, Carol (August 14, 2016) "Tuscaloosa County plane crash kills 6; a total of 11 children left behind." The Birmingham News
- Flanagan, Ben (August 15, 2016) "Deadly Tuscaloosa plane crash: NTSB looking into 'man, machine and environment'." The Birmingham News
- "Alabama plane crash that killed 6 caused by 'fuel starvation'." (May 15, 2018) AP/The Birmingham News