Family of 7 from Destin area killed in Alabama plane crash

[scooterbug44]

Local family killed in plane crash

No idea what forum to put this in, please move as needed.

"A Niceville family of seven heading to Destin Airport was killed in a plane crash Saturday night. According to Morengo County Coroner Stuart Harold Eatmon, Fred and Terresa Teutenberg were on their way home from a family reunion in St. Louis when they reported engine failure.
“He radioed in to Meridian, Mississippi’s airport. He was calling mayday, mayday and they answered him and he told them he was having engine failure,” Eatmon said. “That was at 8:10 and 8:15 they picked him up on radar and then they lost him. I think that’s when his plane completely quit.”
Teutenberg was flying a Cessna C421 from Creve Coeur Airport in St. Louis, when he diverted the plane to Demopolis Municipal Airport
According to Holly Baker, a spokesperson for the FAA, the plane had lost its right engine and came within two miles of the airport.
Eatmon confirmed seven people were killed in the crash. The couple was traveling with five of their children."


http://www.thedestinlog.com/news/plane-18451-destin-faa.html

 

[Everytime]

It sounds like they were from the Niceville/Bluewater Bay area in Okaloosa County, but I thought some of you who are locals may be familiar with the Teutenberg family. Very sad story; please keep their friends and relatives in your prayers:

http://www.charter.net/news/read.php?rip_id=%3CD9ODAOEO3%40news.ap.org%3E&ps=1011

Family of 7 killed in Alabama plane crash

The Associated Press
Monday, July 11, 2011 3:54 AM EDT

DEMOPOLIS, Ala. (AP) — A family of seven was killed when their small plane crashed in western Alabama as they were returning from a family reunion.

The couple and their five children were flying back to Florida from St. Louis when the crash happened Saturday night, Marengo County Coroner Stuart Eatmon said.

They tried landing the Cessna C421 at an airport in Demopolis after it lost its right engine, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Holly Baker said in an email. The plane crashed in a densely wooded area near the airport.

Eatmon identified the dead as: Fred Teutenberg, 42; his wife, Terresa, who was in her mid-30s; their daughter Emma, 2; their son Peyton, 4; their daughter Ellie, 6; their son Brendon, 9; and their son Will, 10. They are from the Destin, Fla., area.

Terresa Teutenberg's oldest child, Ashlei Bruewer, 16, was not on the plane, Eatmon said.

The coroner said relatives told him the family was flying back Saturday so they could make it to church the next day.

The plane was found upside-down and a wing had broken off, apparently as it crashed into trees, Eatmon said. Searchers located it early Sunday.

FAA records show the plane was built in 1978. It was registered to Advanced Integrated Technology Solutions LLC in Niceville, Fla., Fred Teutenberg's company. A message left seeking comment from the company wasn't immediately returned.

Terresa Teutenberg owned Discovery Learning Academy in Bluewater Bay.

"She was an excellent leader and role model. Her work within the school and the community will be greatly missed," the academy said in a statement issued Sunday.

Friends told The Northwest Florida Daily News that Fred Teutenberg did volunteer work and played bass guitar every Sunday with the church band at First United Methodist Church of Niceville.

"He not only played with our band, he played with other church bands elsewhere," said Bob Webb, a friend and member of the church. "He told me one time he even toured a while. So he had a lot of interests."

Eatmon spoke to Fred Teutenberg's father after the crash. Fred Sr. said he had been telling his son to buy a newer plane if he was going to fly with his family, Eatmon said.

"He told his dad the plane had two new engines," Eatmon said.



Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Original Article can be found at:

http://www.charter.net/news/read.php?id=17099059&ps=1011&cat=&cps=0&lang=en

 

[beachmouse]

How do you process losing both parents and five siblings like that? My heart really goes out to the 16 year old survivor.

 

[Kurt]

Such a tragedy.

 

[Abby Prentiss]

I am praying for them.

 

[sunspotbaby]

And how many plane crashes en route to Destin does this make in the past year? I'm beginning to think it's a curse. So sad...