According to the findings of the investigation by the Virginia State Police, the cause of the plane crash that occurred on Thursday and resulted in the death of one person and the serious injury of two others was a flight student who increased altitude too quickly during takeoff, which resulted in the plane stalling.
Investigators have determined that the deceased was a Williamsburg resident named Viktoria Therese Izabelle Ljungman, who was 23-year-old. Ljungman held a commercial pilot’s license and was the flight instructor for the other two passengers who were taking an aviation class with her at the time of the crash. The pilot’s name was Oluwagbohunmi Ayomide Oyebode, and he was 18 years old. He was from Hanover, Maryland.
Both Oyebode and the other male student who is also 18-year-old have been sent to Riverside Regional Hospital with injuries that are considered to be life-threatening. A spokesman for Hampton University has verified that both of them are enrolled there as students.
According to Michelle Anaya, a spokesman for the state police, Oyebode attempted to bring the aircraft up at “too steep of an angle” when he was trying to take off in the Cessna 172 Skyhawk at Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport. According to Anaya, this led to the airplane stalling when it was flying at an altitude of around 100 ft, and then the plane “dove” into a ditch that was near to the runway.
The plane crash took place on Thursday at around 3:03 p.m., and it was reported at 3:22 p.m. Following the incident, the airport was closed for close to two hours. The investigation being conducted by the Virginia State Police is being assisted by the Federal Aviation Administration.
