Dad Who Died in Plane Crash 'Made Sure He Protected' 3 Sons Who 'Miraculously' Survived, Says Wife

An NTSB spokesperson said Jared Newman, who was piloting the plane that crashed on the Fourth of July, was recently certified as a private pilot

A dad who died in a southern California plane crash on the Fourth of July was looking out for his sons, who somehow survived the ordeal, according to their mother.

Jared Newman, 39, was piloting the single-engine Cessna 172 on Tuesday when it crashed near the French Valley Airport, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman Tawny Castro said, according to Patch.com.

The Temecula man was pronounced dead at the scene, where three others were found injured, ABC affiliate KESQ-TV reported.

National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson Jennifer Gabris tells PEOPLE the pilot "was newly certified" as a private pilot on June 19.

Related: 5 Dead After Small Aircraft Crashes in North Myrtle Beach

A GoFundMe campaign stated that Newman was the pilot in Tuesday’s crash and the three passengers were identified as his sons. All three boys — Connor, Caleb and Elijah — "miraculously" survived and are currently in "stable” condition at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, per the fundraiser.

One victim had minor injuries, a second had moderate injuries, and a third had serious injuries, according to the CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department.

"We are surrounded by family and have been attended by angels, including our own Jared," wife Megan Newman wrote in a statement shared on the fundraising page. "In my grief and my heartache I also have 3 beautiful miracles to kiss today."

“[Jared] made sure he protected over them and brought them safely to me," she added, "That is all I could ever ever want in life.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The fixed-wing, single-engine Cessna involved in Tuesday’s crash was built in 1978 and registered to California Professional Flyers Inc., according to the FAA.

The plane took off at 1:28 p.m. and was in the air for 28 minutes before its landing at 1:56 p.m., according to data from FlightAware.com. The crash occurred under a quarter-mile east of the French Valley airfield, KESQ-TV and The Press-Enterprise reported.

Both the NTSB and FAA are investigating, according to CAL FIRE.

The wreckage has since been moved to a secure facility in Chino, California, and was examined on Thursday, an NTSB spokesperson tells PEOPLE. A preliminary report about the crash is expected to be published in three weeks, though the full investigation will take up to two years to complete.

Related: Car Crashes into New Hampshire Restaurant, Injuring Dozens and Pinning Man Inside Bathroom

Connor and Caleb were both alert as of Wednesday morning, their mother shared on the GoFundMe page.

Caleb sustained a broken clavicle, pulmonary bruising, lacerations and black eyes as a result of the crash but did not experience any significant head trauma, she said. Meanwhile, Connor underwent surgery "to put a rod in" his broken femur and sew up his wounds, Megan shared.

Her son Elijah’s injuries are more serious, she shared. The boy has a broken jaw, a lacerated liver, and "more significant" pulmonary bruises than Caleb. He was intubated at the hospital, "but only to give his body a break." 

Related: Friends Speak Out After 5 Teens Die in Florida Crash: 'They Had The Most Beautiful Souls'

“We are surrounded by family and have been attended by angels, including our own Jared. He is near,” Megan said on GoFundMe. She later added, “Please pray for my beautiful boys, prayer is keeping us going today.”

As of Friday afternoon, the campaign has raised over $50,000 for the family.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.