The Miller County Coroner’s Office has officially identified the two individuals who lost their lives in the plane crash that occurred on Tuesday near the Lake of the Ozarks.
According to a Thursday update shared by the Miller County Coroner’s Office on social media, the victims have been identified as Michelle Peterson, 51, and John Peterson, 52.
Both individuals were residents of Simpsonville, Kentucky. According to reporting by the local publication Shelbyville Sentinel-News, Michelle Peterson was an active candidate in a local school board election at the time of the tragedy. The Louisville-based NBC affiliate further reported that she was declared the winner of that election just hours after the crash, which took place on Election Day.
The Miller County Coroner’s Office has stated that no suspicious circumstances have been identified in connection with the deaths. Nevertheless, the investigations into both fatalities remain open, pending the outcome of further findings.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a formal investigation into the incident. An NTSB spokesperson confirmed that the inquiry involves a Cirrus SR22 aircraft that went down in Miller County, and noted that investigators were expected to arrive at the scene as early as Wednesday afternoon.
The Federal Aviation Administration is also set to conduct its own investigation into the crash, as confirmed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Preliminary reports indicate that the aircraft crashed into a wooded area shortly after departing from Lee C. Fine Memorial Airport.
The crash site has been identified as Public Beach Drive, located southwest of the airport within Lake of the Ozarks State Park. The airport itself sits in Miller County, near the Camden County line.
Upon arriving at the scene, NTSB investigators will thoroughly document the crash site and conduct an examination of the aircraft before it is transported to a secure facility for further evaluation.
