A Cessna 340A crashed in the Stono River, SC, Friday, taking the lives of four, including, its owner, New Bern, NC, orthopedic surgeon Ray B. Armistead.

Armistead's 54-year-old wife, Patricia, and their two daughters, Kristin and 27-year-old Lauren Armistead also were killed in the crash, Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten said Saturday.

Armistead, 58, was flying his Cessna 340A, which went down around 1:30 pm Friday as it circled back for a second attempt to land at the Johns Island Executive Airport southwest of downtown Charleston, authorities said.
Authorities would not say whether the plane reported any problems after it took off from Rock Hill about an hour earlier.

"I know weather was here at the time, but that doesn't matter. I still have to examine the aircraft and look at the past maintenance, pilot experience and so forth," NTSB investigator Eric Alleyne said.

There was light rain and winds from the south around 15 mph at the time of the crash, according to the National Weather Service.

The wreckage was raised from its resting spot 20 feet into the water and brought to the surface on Saturday. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration plan to take the wreckage, according to the AP.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ntsb.gov