Pilot's Final Words Before Pennsylvania Plane Crash Caught on Audio

A quiet afternoon in Pennsylvania took a horrifying turn when a small plane crashed near Lancaster Airport, bursting into flames upon impact. The Beechcraft Bonanza, carrying five people, went down in the parking lot of a retirement community just moments after takeoff. Miraculously, all passengers survived, though some suffered serious injuries. The crash also destroyed several vehicles, but no one on the ground was hurt. As federal investigators work to determine what went wrong, new details are emerging about the moments leading up to the crash.

Plane Goes Down Shortly After Takeoff

The aircraft crashed around 3 p.m. on March 9, just south of Lancaster Airport in Manheim Township. According to the Manheim Borough Police Department, the plane skidded roughly 100 feet before coming to a stop in the Brethren Village parking lot.

Authorities confirmed that all five people on board were transported to Lancaster General Hospital, where emergency and trauma teams were ready to assist. Some were later transferred to a burn center for further treatment. Despite the wreckage and fire, police said no residents of the retirement community were injured.

"I don't know if I'd consider it a miracle, but the fact that we have a plane crash where everybody survives and nobody on the ground is hurt is a wonderful thing," Manheim Township Police Chief Duane Fisher told the Associated Press.

Witness Describes Fiery Impact

Brian Pipkin, a witness driving nearby, saw the plane struggling in the air before it suddenly veered left and crashed.

"And then it went down nose first," Pipkin told the Associated Press. "There was an immediate fireball."

After calling 911, Pipkin rushed to the scene, capturing video of thick black smoke rising from the crash site. He described the intensity of the flames as overwhelming.

"It was so smoky and it was so hot," he said, per the Associated Press. "They were really struggling to get the fire out."

Pilot Reported Mechanical Issue Before Crash

Air traffic control recordings revealed that the pilot, later identified as Matt White, a board member of Venture Jets, reported an issue with the plane's door shortly after takeoff.

The aircraft "has an open door, we need to return for landing," the pilot told Lancaster Airport's control tower, according to ABC News. The controller approved the request, but moments later, they issued an urgent warning to "pull up!"

Shortly after that command, the plane crashed behind the airport terminal.

Authorities Work to Uncover What Went Wrong

Fire crews arrived within minutes, working quickly to contain the blaze. Meanwhile, first responders assisted the injured passengers, transporting them to Lancaster General Hospital. Two victims were later flown to Lehigh Valley Health Network's burn center, and another was taken there by ground ambulance. Two others were treated and released later that night.

Venture Jets issued a statement on Monday, confirming White was piloting the plane but clarifying that the flight was personal.

"We can confirm that Sunday's tragic aircraft mishap at Lancaster Airport involved one of our family — Matt White. Matt is a long-time aviation advocate and Private Pilot, as well as an Executive Board Member for our company," the statement said, according to ABC News. "The flight in question was a personal flight, in a privately owned aircraft, for the purpose of personal family travel. The flight was not affiliated with, nor operated by our company, nor were any company employees involved."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Governor Pledges State Support

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro assured the public that state officials were assisting local responders.

"Our team at @PAStatePolice is on the ground assisting local first responders following the small private plane crash near Lancaster Airport in Manheim Township," Shapiro wrote on X, as reported by ABC News. "All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues, and more information will be provided as it becomes available."

A Near Miss That Could Have Been Much Worse

The crash caused significant damage, including the destruction of multiple parked cars, and Brethren Village residents were briefly asked to shelter in place. Fortunately, the plane narrowly missed a three-story building, avoiding what could have been a much larger tragedy.

References: Small plane crashes with 5 aboard in Pennsylvania | A single-engine plane crashes near a Pennsylvania airport and all 5 aboard are taken to hospitals