Three pilots flying together to a safety conference died when their single-engine plane faltered in mid-air before crashing into a house that went up in flames.
The three men had just taken off from Hawkins Field Airport in Jackson, Mississippi on Tuesday when a witness said the Piper PA-32 began 'spitting and sputtering'.
They have been identified as John Tilton, WC Young, and David Williams, all civil air patrolmen.
One of the pilots asked for permission to return to the airport, but just minutes later the plane went down.
It crashed through trees before slamming into a house that caught fire, sending flames and black smoke through the neighborhood of modest single-family homes.
The county coroner said dental records or DNA would be needed to confirm the victims' identities.
A deputy fire chief said one person escaped the burning home with minor injuries and was in good condition at University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Tragedy: David Williams also died in the small plane crash on the way to an aviation meeting
The men on board were headed to a Federal Aviation Administration safety conference less than 30 miles away.
The plane was owned by Roger and Michele Latham, from Superior Pallet Company in Flowood, both of whom showed up at the crash site, along with their daughter Emily.
Mrs Latham said all three men on board were pilots. Mr Latham, who is 15 hours short of getting his pilot's license, identified one of the victims as John Edward Tilton Jr, his flight instructor.
'He was one of the finest Christian men I knew,' Mr Latham said. 'We had three great men who lost their lives.
'I just want to wake up in a while and say, ''This didn't happen.'"
Emily Latham said her father was supposed to have been on board but changed his plans.
‘He went hunting,’ she said. ‘Thank God.’
The plane had departed Hawkins Field Airport headed for Raymond, Mississippi, for an FAA safety conference.
Mr Latham said his plane had been parked in a hangar for a month and they wanted to take it out for a short flight before he flew it to Gulf Shores, Alabama, for Thanksgiving.
were both killed when their plane went down in Mississippi
Three pilots died on Tuesday when their small plane crashed into a house in Jackson, Mississippi. The pilots were heading to an FAA safety conference.
The three pilots, killed in small plane crash, en route to Mississippi aviation safety conference
Aircraft crashed into suburban home in west Jackson, Mississippi
Victims identified as John Tilton, WC Young and David Williams
One person escaped the burning home with minor injuries
Plane's owner said aircraft was in 'mint condition'
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