Tennessee Physician, Family Killed On Plane That Crashed Into Plainville Home
PLAINVILLE (CBS) -- An emergency room physician, his wife and daughter were killed when their plane crashed into a home in Plainville on Sunday.
Dr. Joseph Kalister, his wife Betty, and their 19-year-old daughter Nicole, all of Knoxville, Tenn., were reportedly traveling to Boston for a college visit.
A spokesperson for Northeastern University told WBZ-TV Nicole Kalister was scheduled to attend a new student orientation this week.
They were the only people on board.
Investigators are trying to figure out what caused the plane to crash.
An FAA spokesperson said Kalister had no prior record of any incidents.
According to radio transmissions between the pilot and the airport tower operator, it appears there was an issue with at least one engine before the crash.
"We've lost our control," Kalister is heard over the radio saying. "We've got problems with the engine."
The tower operator recommended Kalister around and land at the nearest airport in Rhode Island.
Kalister asked for directions and said, "I can't do anything. I can't see anything."
"We got a real bad vibration. We're losing engines. We have no engines," Kalister said. "I need help."
The tower instructed him to try to land on Interstate 495. Kalister told the tower they were gliding, and then the transmission went silent.
Aaron Rice spent Monday combing through the charred remains of the house he and his family just moved into in 2013.
"We're fortunate, we are surrounded by people who love us, and we can take solace in that at least," he said.
He, his wife and two young sons were all able to escape the crash.
"We need to have support for that family, they're in far graver circumstances," he says. "We'll get through this hopefully (and) they will too."
Meanwhile, neighbors are taking charge, helping the family by raising money online and in other ways.
A local girl scout troops have chosen to donate half of the proceeds from a pre-planned fundraiser at a local yogurt shop to the Rice family.
"We want to help the family get back on their feet so they can get a new house," says a girl scout.
A sweet sentiment in the middle of unthinkable chaos.
"We're recovering from trying to figure out what's next," Rice says.
