The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed on Thursday, the flight instructor and student who were killed when a small plane crashed near New Smyrna Beach on Wednesday evening were from Phoenix East Aviation.
NTSB officials said the single engine plane was on a cross county flight which began at Daytona Beach, traveling to Sarasota and Melbourne before stopping at the practice area. NTSB officials said, it is not unusual to use the training area for students to learn various maneuvers. The plane crashed into the ocean, south of Bethune Beach.
Officials confirmed that the plane had dual controls so both the instructor and student could operate the air craft.
According to NTSB officials, radar data was currently being reviewed in order to pin point exactly where the small plane went down. The NTSB officials who confirmed there was communication between the air plane and air traffic control before the plane went down, declined to elaborate on the exact nature of that communication.
Rescue officials were hampered on Wednesday evening and again early on Thursday morning due heavy fog in the area.
