A small plane that originated Saturday in Naples crashed later in the day in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
Brooklyn Park fire department officials reported no survivors from the aircraft. Officials did not immediately provide information about possible deaths or injuries related to the crash in Brooklyn Park.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are onsite, alongside the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office and others.
On Sunday, U.S. Bancorp issued a statement saying that it believes that Terry Dolan, 63, the company's vice president and chief administration officer, was aboard the plane and federal officials said they believe he was piloting the craft and was the sole occupant:
“We are aware that the plane that crashed in Brooklyn Park on Saturday afternoon was registered to Terry Dolan, our vice chair and chief administration officer. At this time, the Medical Examiner's office has not been able to confirm whether he was on board, but we believe he was. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and friends, and anyone who may have been affected by yesterday’s tragic incident."
The craft was a SOCATA TBM 700 registered to DGW Enterprises of Edina, Minn. The craft can carry up to six passengers.
Web-based flight-tracking information shows the single turbo-prop plane departed Naples Airport Saturday at 7:30 a.m. enroute to Des Moines, Iowa.
The plane left Des Moines at 11:12 a.m. bound for Anoka County-Blaine Airport just north of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The crash occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m.
There were several pilot reports issued at the time of the accident for light rime icing. Rime ice forms when small, supercooled water droplets (liquid water below freezing) freeze rapidly upon impact with a surface, typically in conditions of freezing fog or cold, wet air.
Weather accounts also reported sleet conditions at the time of the crash.
Doorbell and other video from sources in the area showed the craft plunging almost straight down moments before it crashed. Flight data showed the plane had been cleared to land and was on a stable approach to the airport's Runway 9 before it turned sharply left and lost altitude.
The plane crashed into an occupied home on Kyle Avenue which then burst into flames. Officials at the scene said the occupants of the home were able to escape unharmed before fire destroyed the structure.
At a media briefing later Saturday, Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Shawn Conway said "There are no survivors from the aircraft which struck the home.”
The department later Sunday released updated information saying the NTSB is in the process of recovering the plane and will move it to a secure location for further examination. An initial report is expected in approximately two weeks, the update said, but it will not include a determination of cause.
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