VENICE, Fla. — Police in Florida are investigating after a small aircraft crash claimed the lives of four Hoosiers.
According to authorities, a Piper PA-32R-300 aircraft carrying Rick Beaver (60) and Bethe Beaver (57) of Noblesville and Patricia Lumpkin (68) and William Lumpkin (64) of Fishers crashed just after 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The plane reportedly left St. Petersburg, Florida around 5 p.m. and flew to Venice, Florida. Around 9:35 p.m. the plane left Venice back to St. Petersburg.
Shortly after takeoff from Venice, the plane crashed.
According to authorities, the single-engine plane was operated by William.
Rick and William, who went by Jeff, were found together Wednesday evening.
On Thursday, Bethe and Patty were found with the wreckage near the Venice Fishing Pier.
The four individuals left a great impact on their community.
Bethe was the founder and owner of Indiana Elite Cheer and Tumbling in Noblesville.
Cheerleaders remembered Bethe with a memorial outside of the facility Thursday night. They left flowers and hung posters that stated what Bethe meant to them.
Jeff and Patty impacted the lives of those who attended church with them at Life Church.
“You never know exactly how much time is left for you,” Nathan Peternel, the lead pastor at Life Church, said. “But if I was going to live my life not knowing when my last day was going to be, if I was living it like Jeff and Patty, I’d be living it with a lot of purpose.”
Peternel met Jeff through the church. The two went to breakfast together one morning where Jeff talked more about his passion for leadership and flying.
“I knew him through his love for flying,” Peternel said. “He ended up becoming a mentor in my son’s life, and anybody who reaches out to your son has your heart. My son is in the military. He wants to be a pilot, so Jeff began to mentor him towards learning what to do and the order of things.”
WFTS in Tampa assisted WRTV in this report.
-
Crash leaves Decatur Central High School teacher critically injured
Police are investigating a crash that left one person seriously injured near Decatur Central High School Monday morning.
Arrest made in deaths of 22-year-old man and 3-year-old child in August shooting
Police have made an arrest in a double murder that left 22-year-old JaiShawn Darell Johnson and 3-year-old Armonie Booker dead in August.
Tony Stewart makes it to birth of baby boy after qualifying for NHRA finals
Tony Stewart had a busy weekend qualifying for the NRHA finals and welcoming a new baby boy on Saturday before returning to Pomona for race day Sunday.
Spirit Airlines filing for bankruptcy as it faces looming debt payments
Spirit announced on Monday that it would file for bankruptcy. Customers can still book flights during this time, the company said.
