Airplane Went Down In The Great Smoky Mountains

An airplane with three people on board went down Monday in the Great Smoky Mountains, resulting in the fatal injury of all three occupants of the airplane.

The wreckage of the aircraft was located about 1600 local time Tuesday near Cole Creek in the Gatlinburg area, according to a report from the Knoxville News Sentinel. The people on board have been identified as 42-year-old Kim Smith, David Starling, 41 and Starling's 8-year-old son Hunter.

The family had departed Jacksonville, FL in a Cessna 182 en route to the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport. They were planning a family vacation in the area, according to FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen. A family member said that the family had not been heard from since about 1600 Monday.

In a news release, the National Park Service said the aircraft was located at about 1643 local time on an unnamed ridge in the park, between Cole Creek and Bearpen Hollow Branch. Great Smoky Mountain National Park spokeswoman Molly Schroer said that the terrain where the plane went down is very rugged and hard to access by foot.

The weather in the region Monday night was reported to be foggy and rainy, but there were no specific weather alerts for the region.

FAA records show that the airplane belonged to Joseph David Starling of Lawtey, FL. He had received a private pilot certificate in April of 2014, according to the FAA.

A recovery effort began Wednesday, according to the report.

(Image from file. Not accident airplane)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov