A small corporate jet crashed into a Gaitherburg, Maryland home on Monday morning causing six fatalities – three on the airplane and three in the home, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescure Chief Steve Lohr. The crash occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m. in the 19700 block of Drop Forge Lane, which is located near Snouffer School Road. The plane left Chapel Hill, North Carolina at 9:30 a.m. and was headed for Runway 14 at Montgomery County Airpark, which is located near to the crash site.
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said they recovered cockpit flight data recorders from the aviation accident. Federal Aviation Administration investigators have also responded to the scene. Tragically, a mother and her two children inside the home that was hit by the plane were reportedly among the fatalities. ABC Channel 7 (WJLA) also reports that Health Decisions CEO Michael J. Rosenberg was among the deceased.
The plane has been identified as an Embraer EMB-500/Phenom 100 twin-engine jet was on a “GPS approach” to the Montgomery County Airpark when it crashed in Gaithersburg. The business jet was owned by Fort Orange, Florida-based Sage Aviation and built five years ago in Brazil.
This airplane accident is a tragedy for the Montgomery County, Maryland community and our hearts go out to the victims, families, friends, and neighbors impacted by this terrible catastrophe.