2 people killed in small plane crash in Palmyra

Brian Farrell
·2 min read

PALMYRA, Va. (DC News Now) — Virginia State Police (VSP) said a pilot and his passenger died after a small plane crashed in Fluvanna County Sunday.

VSP said John W. Latham, 63, of Haymarket, Va. piloted the twin-engine 1975 Rockwell Aero Commander 690A. The plane took off from Manassas Regional Airport, bound for the Georgetown County Airport in South Carolina.

The Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office recieved a call from people living in the 200 block of Miles Jackson Rd. in Palmyra around 8:55 a.m. The people said they saw a low-flying plane, then heard what sounded like an explosion. Members of the sheriff’s office as well as Virginia Conservation Police and VSP went to search for wreckage. They found the plane on fire.

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Latham and his passenger, Niiben C.A. Ayivorh, 73, of Burke, Va. died. VSP said their remains were taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond for examination and autopsy.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it opened an investigation into the crash. The wreckage will be taken to another location to be evaluated further.

NTSB said the investigators look at the following to better understand what happened:

  • Flight track data

  • Recordings of any air traffic control communications

  • Aircraft maintenance records

  • Weather forecasts and actual weather and lighting conditions around the time of the accident

  • Pilot’s license, ratings and recency of flight experience

  • 72-hour background of the pilot to determine if there were any issues that could have affected the pilot’s ability to safety operate the flight

  • Witness statements

  • Electronic devices that could contain information relevant to the investigation

  • Any available surveillance video, including from doorbell cameras

People who saw what happened or who have surveillance or other information that could be useful to the investigation are asked to contact NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov.

A preliminary report is expected within 30 days of the crash. A probable cause, along with any other information, will be in the final report, which is expected in 12 to 24 months.

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