Cessna 182 was taking them to photograph hurricane damaged areas, assess need for help

Four members of the Pace Assembly of God Church in Florida were killed Thursday when the Cessna 182 aircraft (file photo below) that was carrying them crashed in Milton (FL). The four were on a mission to photograph hurricane-damaged areas in order to assess which ones were in most need of assistance.

The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, killing Travis Neff, Cristy King, and father and son Bill Walther and Daniel Wesley, said the Associated Press. All four were members of the church, which had also doubled as a shelter during and after the passing of Hurricane Ivan. Church members had also given out food and supplies to storm victims.

"This is absolutely the hardest thing I've ever had to face," said the Rev. Glen Lowery, the church's pastor. He was to be on the aircraft, but stayed behind because of a scheduled meeting with an insurance adjuster. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

(The registration number shown below came from the FAA web site and is not correct. - Ed.)

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 5157        Make/Model: C182      Description: 182, Skylane
  Date: 09/23/2004     Time: 1512

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: MILTON                      State: FL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  ACFT DEPARTED PETER PRINCE FIELD AIRPORT (2R4) AND CRASHED ABOUT .25 MI
  WEST OF THE ARPT. THE FOUR POB SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES AND ACFT FIRE WAS
  REPORTED. OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. MILTON, FL

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   4
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   Y
                 # Pass:   3     Fat:   3     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: METAR KPNS 231453Z 08009KT 10SM SKC 24/18 A3014                            
                                                                                    
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Take-off      Operation: General Aviation

  Departed: PETER PRINCE FIELD,         Dep Date: 09/23/2004   Dep. Time: 1509
  Destination: UNKN                     Flt Plan: NONE         Wx Briefing: Y
  Last Radio Cont: UNKN
  Last Clearance: UNKN

  FAA FSDO: BIRMINGHAM, AL  (SO09)                Entry date: 09/24/2004

FMI: www.paceassembly.org