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UPDATED: Plane crashes near UPS freight building in Roanoke; pilot confirmed dead
Appalachian Power is now reporting that all power has been restored in the vicinity of the crash site.
FROM EARLIER:
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) -- The pilot of a single-engine plane that crashed into the side of a UPS Freight facility near the Roanoke Regional Airport has died.
Spokeswoman Allison Buth says 59-year-old Peter Sheeran died at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital after the crash Tuesday.
She says passenger John Whitmer is in serious condition. Both men are from Charlottesville.
There were no other injuries.
Roanoke County Fire Department spokeswoman Jennifer Conley Sexton says Sheeran's plane was taking off just before 1 p.m. when it hit power lines, crashed into the corner of the building and burst into flames.
Federal Aviation Administration lists the 1985 Piper PA-46's owner as Aviation Development Group Inc. of Charlottesville.
Government records list Sheeran as president.
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News 7 has confirmed that the pilot, Peter Sheeran, has died. The passenger, John Whitmer is still in serious condition.
We'll continue posting up-to-date information right here on WDBJ7.com, and on News 7 at Eleven on Your Hometown Station.
UPDATED: 5:55 p.m.
The names of the two plane people injured in the crash have been revealed to News 7.
John Whitmer is said to be in serious condition.
Peter Sheeran is critical condition.
FROM EARLIER
A plane crashed into the Valley Pointe industrial complex off Peters Creek Road around 1:00 Tuesday afternoon.
State Police tell News7 the plane had just taken off from Roanoke Regional Airport, when it struck some powerlines, and then struck the front of the UPS freight building and burst into flames.
Two people were on board the plane and both them were taken to the hospital.
A Carilion spokesperson says one person is critical condition. The other is in serious condition.
The plane was registered to a company called Aviation Development Group of Charlottesville.
The FAA says the plane had departed from Roanoke Regional Airport and was trying to get back to the airport when the crash occurred.
Authorities tell us the plane was on its way to Charlottesville.
According to the FAA's website the plane is a fixed wing single engine plane.
The airfield was shut down for ten minutes, but is currently open.
The incident has also affected Appalachian customers in the area.
Crews have already restored power to between 200 and 300 customers.
Approximately 180 customers are now said to be without power in the area. They expect that number to drop to 14 customers by 4:40 p.m. Tuesday.
The Roanoke DMV office in the area has closed for the day. A spokesperson says they hope to re-open Wednesday.
UPDATED 3:01 p.m.
A Carilion spokesperson says two people were injured. One is in critical condition. The other is in serious condition.
UPDATED 2:56 p.m.
The Roanoke DMV office near the accident site has closed for the rest of the day Tuesday. A spokesperson says they hope to open the office back up on Wednesday.
UPDATED 2:43 p.m
An Appalachian Power spokesperson says crews have re-routed some circuits in the area and have managed to restore power to between 200 and 300 customers in the vicinity of the crash.
Approximately 1,032 customers are now said to be without power.
UPDATED 2:39 p.m.
According to the FAA there were two people on board the plane.
A spokesperson says a passenger was seriously injured but the pilot was not.
The plane was registered to a company called Aviation Development Group of Charlottesville.
The FAA says the plane had departed from Roanoke Regional Airport and was trying to get back to the airport when the crash occurred.
According to the FAA's website the plane is a fixed wing single engine plane.
UPDATED 2:25 p.m.
Sherry Wallace with the Roanoke Regional Airport tells News 7 that there is no word yet as to where the plane is from. There is no indication that it is from Roanoke or has been stored in Roanoke.
UPDATED 2:13 p.m.
State Police tell News7 the plane had just taken off from Roanoke Regional Airport, when it struck some powerlines, and then struck the front of the UPS freight building and burst into flames.
Two people were on board the plane, they have both been taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
State Police describe their injuries as serious. It is unclear if anybody was injured inside the building.
Appalachian Power says 1,300 customers are without power in the area, because of the plane crash. It is unclear when the power will be back on.
UPDATED: 2:05 p.m.
From Roanoke Regional Airport
Roanoke, Virginia – There has been an aircraft incident near the airport. Currently, aircraft rescue efforts are underway.
At approximately 12:50 p.m., a Piper PA46 aircraft with two souls on board attempted to take off at the Roanoke Regional Airport. The pilot called the air traffic control tower for emergency assistance. The plane at that point appears to have hit the UPS freight facility on the North Side of Peters Creek Road.
Airport Fire and Rescue Team as well as Roanoke County and Roanoke City have responded to the incident. The airfield was shut down for ten minutes, but is currently open. There is no information at this time on injuries that may or may not have been sustained on the aircraft or at the facility.
The Virginia State Police and Roanoke County will be conducting a briefing on the incident in 10 minutes at the corner of Peters Creek and Valley Pointe Road.
UPDATED: 2:00 p.m.
An Appalachian Power spokesman says a power outage in the Peters Creek Road area may be related to the plane crash. About 1,300 customers are without power.
UPDATED: 1:30 p.m.
A News-7 crew near the scene saw two bodies being removed from the wreckage. The Valley Pointe complex has been closed off. We're expecting a news conference from Virginia State Police and Roanoke airport officials soon.
Video from the scene shows a pile of burned wreckage just outside the UPS building in the complex.
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A plane crashed into the Valley Pointe industrial complex off Peters Creek Road around 1:00. Roanoke City and Roanoke County firefighters are on the scene, according to a News-7 crew in the area.