RONKONKOMA, N.Y. — Two men have been identified as the victims of a deadly small plane crash at MacArthur Airport in Long Island. The crash occurred on Monday shortly after the single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza A36 took off, according to Suffolk County police. The victims, Christopher Kucera, 46, and Zachary Hatcher, 43, both from Virginia, were pronounced dead at the scene. Kucera was piloting the aircraft, with Hatcher as his sole passenger.
The couple had been visiting friends in Long Island and were heading back to Virginia when tragedy struck. Witnesses reported that the plane had just taken off but quickly maneuvered back toward the runway before crashing into a grassy area. Kucera, an experienced pilot and air and space engineer, had been flying since he was 17 years old. His brother, Mike Kucera, revealed that he believes the plane lost power.
Meanwhile, Hatcher was set to begin his new role as the CEO of the nonprofit Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region. Colleagues and friends expressed their grief over the loss, describing the couple as fun-loving and genuine individuals who made everyone feel like their best friend.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently investigating the crash to determine the cause. The loss of the two lives has left both their families and the communities they were a part of in shock and mourning.