Connecticut Race Car Driver Among Those Dead in Plane Crash

By PAIGE MCATEE (Patch Staff)

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Authorities have released new information regarding the small engine plane that went down in Syosset Tuesday afternoon, killing three.

The victims were race car driver David Berube, of Bristol, his longtime girlfriend Dana Parenteau and one of Berube's male employees, according to the Hartford Courant.

Berube, 66, the owner of the plane, his girlfriend and a male employee were leaving a wedding in South Carolina and were heading home to Connecticut, the Courant reports.

The New York Daily News says the wedding was for Berube's son.

Bruce Berube posted a statement regarding his brother's death on Facebook, which was shared by the Daily News: “Dave was an unflappable pilot, was a pilot instructor for years, totally fearless! Three lives lost and three families damaged forever. If you believe in God, please say a prayer for them.”

Berube won the 1996 Modified championship and has competed in races in New England since 1990.

Nassau County Police have “tentatively identified” the victims and notified their families, although their names are not being released at this time despite the other reports identifying the victims.

Authorities say they found the three bodies and the parts of the plane were found in a “widespread area,” approximately one-third of a mile.

One body was found in the parking lot of Long Island High School for the Arts, a second body was found west of that in the woods and the third body was discovered approximately 50 yards from the second body in Oyster Bay Cove.

Nassau County Traffic Safety Board senior investigator Robert Gretz said the plane’s engine and the four main parts of the plane were recovered Wednesday.

“We’re going to continue to work today to recover pieces of the airplane, primarily the ones in other people’s yards,” he said at a press conference.

No injuries were reported on the ground and only one home sustained minor damages from the crash.

The plane, a 43-year-old Beech BE35 aircraft, suffered an in-flight breakup at approximately 7,000 feet and crashed in the vicinity of Southwoods Road and Cold Spring Road at 3:45 p.m, which caused a loud boom heard by many people in the area.

The plane took off from North Myrtle Beach, S.C. and was headed to Plainfield, Conn., police say.

The pilot reported to air traffic control that he was having difficulty maintaining the aircraft and that more and more instrumentations were malfunctioning, including a vacuum pump failure, Gretz said.

In-flight breakups aren’t particularly common, Gretz said. He has heard of this problem occurring five times in his 18 years.

Police said it has proved very difficult to find parts of the plane and authorities have not recovered any identifications of the victims. “I ask the residents if they come across any personal effects of the crash or small parts of the plane to notify us.” police said.

Photos courtesy of @richjcho