Weekend Plane Wreck Leaves One Dead

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - What was to be a straight flight from Lewisburg West Virginia to Memphis International Sunday ended in a fiery crash killing Memphian Emmett O'Ryan.

Kevin Starks says, "My heart went out for him and his family I just cant even imagine what they're going through right now."

O'Ryan was traveling from his families West Virginia home after the Thanksgiving weekend when just feet from an airport runway the plane went down bursting into flames. Sunday evening emergency crews put out the fire transporting the planes 4 passengers to local hospitals.

On board the plane at the time of the crash were: Emmett's daughter Ruth O'Ryan and family friend Patrick Jenning, who are both in fair condition at The MED, Emmett's son Robert O'Ryan, who was released Sunday night, and Emmett O'Ryan, who holds a pilots license and is a co-owner of the plane.

Starks says, "I don't think anything you can say to someone throughout this will make them feel better but you can pray for them you can cry with them... Just them knowing you're there will give them comfort and piece."

Executive Vice President of the O'Ryan Group in Memphis, Emmett O'Ryan died Sunday night as a result of his injuries. Monday family and friends gather at the O'Ryan home near the U of M campus.

Kevin Starks basketball coach at Harding Academy coached Emmett's son Robert and remembers a giving and caring family.

Starks says, "He was always positive whether Robert played the whole game or didn't play the whole game he and his wife Sara were always positive they just cared about there children."

Monday as the charred single engine Piper built in 1978 lays underneath a blue tarp surrounded by yellow caution tape.

The FAA has concluded their investigation and has handed it over to the NTSB for final review.