Tue, Sep 04, 2007
Ministers Were Heading To Meeting On New Church
A Beechcraft Bonanza went down in a remote and rugged area of
Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee Sunday shortly after
takeoff... killing all on board.
According to the Carter County Sheriff's Department, the
Bonanza, carrying five Jehovah's Witness ministers, took off from
the Elizabethton Municipal Airport and was on the way to Virginia
Highlands Airport near Abingdon, VA, when it went down about 10:30
am, reported the Associated Press. The flight reportedly originated
in Hamblen County.
The crash site was discovered by a passing aircraft Saturday
evening about a mile and a half down the south side of the mountain
in a remote area, according to the AP. A subsequent ground search
was delayed by nightfall.
Officials haven't said what may have led to the accident.
Investigators with the FAA and NTSB were due on scene Monday.
Although the no identities have been released, Robert Burpitt,
of the Woodland Heights congregation of Jehovah's Witness in
Kingsport, told the AP the ministers were from Chattanooga, Pigeon
Forge, Morristown, Elizabethton and Unicoi County and were members
of a regional building committee on their way to Abingdon to meet
with a congregation in Lebanon, VA, about building a new
church.
"If a congregation wants to build a new kingdom hall, these five
men would help organize getting the project done," Burpitt said.
"All of the congregations in this region are devastated by this
news, and will continue to keep the families in their prayers."
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