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Corporate jet registered in Montana crashes in Indiana

Posted: Mar 17, 2013 8:54 PM by WSBT-TV South Bend
Updated: Mar 18, 2013 7:48 AM

SOUTH BEND, IN - A small jet has hit at least three homes on Iowa Street southeast of the South Bend Regional Airport. FAA spokesman Roland Herwig confirms of the four people on the jet, two were killed and two were injured. He also said a "preliminary report" shows two dead on the ground.

At least three people have been taken to Memorial Hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening, according to a hospital spokesperson. Two are in fair condition and one is serious. The person in serious condition is undergoing surgery.

The jet was a Beechcraft Premier 1 with tail number N26DK - out of the Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport in Tulsa, OK.

The plane was registered to 7700 Enterprises of Montana LLC in Helena, Mont. The company is owned by Wes Caves and does business as DigiCut Systems in Tulsa, Okla. It makes window film and paint overlay for automobiles.

This happened around 4:30 p.m. According to South Bend fire, the plane was 8 miles west of the airport headed to runway 9. It touched down one time then started to climb again and then it crashed.

On approach the pilot reported a problem with electrical power, according to the FAA.

Assistant South Bend Fire Chief John Corthier said the presence of jet fuel from the aircraft made the situation "very dangerous," Corthier said. The plane was lodged inside a house.

"It's still a rescue operation," Corthier said about three hours after the crash. Referring to one of the damaged houses, he said, "Because of the collapse in the house it's a very dangerous situation. We have to shore up the house before we can enter the house. "