Questions remain about plane crash

WARREN COUNTY, Ohio (WDTN) - A female passenger remained in critical condition Thursday as FAA and NTSB representatives continued their investigation into what caused a Piper Cherokee 180  to crash in Warren County.

Emergency crews responded to the 1000 block of Mulford Road in Turtlecreek Township Wednesday afternoon where the plane went down.

Authorities said the plane crashed shortly after taking off from the Warren County Airport around 4 p.m.

"The pilot quickly realized the plane was suffering a power loss," says Lt. Mike Sanders with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.  "He attempted to navigate back to the airport, but the plane quickly lost altitude.  The plane hit a group of pine trees, struck a utility pole, crashed into a resident's property and then caught fire."

Within moments of the crash, neighbors were at the scene using buckets of water from the faucet to put out the fire and caring for the victims.

"I talked to the one guy he said he was okay but his brother needed help so I went right down and helped him," says Melinda Fox, who lives down the street from where the plane went down.

Inside that plane were three brothers, Zeb, Wilson, and Zach Bowles and Zach's wife Kate.

They were in town from California and Colorado and decided to rent a plane from the Warren County Airport to take for a short spin.

Zeb was piloting the plane when it crashed into Lexie Kinsworthy's yard.

Kate had to be pulled from the wreckage. The three brothers got out themselves. They were taken to the hospital but are expected to be okay.

"I was just so thankful they were able to crawl out," says Kinsworthy.

The neighbors 2 NEWS talked to say they've lived near the airport for decades, but this is the first crash they can remember, although their actions in those precious moments afterward won't soon be forgotten.

"I just did what anybody would do," Fox says.

It could be months before a final ruling is made on what's to blame for the crash.