The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the cause of a plane crash that happened Monday night at the Fulton-Elton Hensley Memorial Airport. The plane crashed just after takeoff.
Fulton Police Chief Steve Myers said the plane's three passengers were seriously injured. They were taken to University Hospital in Columbia.
Fulton's fire department received a call about the crash at about 5:30 p.m. Monday. When they arrived on the scene, the plane was upright in a field at the airport. They checked the airplane for hazards, leaking fuel, etc. and transported the three passengers to the medic unit.
The FAA arrived at the Fulton-Elton Hensley Memorial Airport at about noon Tuesday to begin its investigation. Investigations usually take several weeks, and sometimes longer, to complete. Elizabeth Cory with the FAA said FAA investigations look at the pilot's training and certificate, the plane's manufacture and upkeep and whether rules of flight were followed. For investigations, they also pull radar, talk to witnesses and sometimes send parts of the plane back to the manufacturer.