There will be a special vespers program at the Collegedale
Seventh-day Adventist Church at 8 p.m. tonight and the victims of Thursday's plane crash will be remembered.
Church officials said, "As our church, students and the community cope with this tragedy, we will join together for music, prayer and reflection."
Ruthie Gray of Southern Adventist University said later Friday, "Tonight's program is a special vespers program, but it is not an official memorial service. The tragedy will be addressed, and yet it is really more of a time to come together as a spiritual family during
this tragedy."
The vesper service this evening will be broadcast on WSMC 90.5 FM.
Five people died when a small plane crashed just north of Collegedale early Thursday afternoon.
Federal safety officials were on the scene Friday trying to determine what happened.
David Graves said he saw the plane flying low, then turn on its side and dive for the ground. He said he saw a man walk from the plane, then there was an explosion and flames shooting up some 100 feet high.
The bodies of the victims were taken to a forensic lab.
Co-pilot James Huff, who walked away from the crash, was released from Erlanger Medical Center.
Officials said those dead include four leaders of the Georgia-Cumberland Conference of Seventh Day Adventists. The group was headed from meetings at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale to Knoxville, where they were to hold meetings with Seventh-day Adventist pastors and other Conference presidents.
They are Dave Cress, president; Jim Frost, executive secretary (vice president); Jamie Arnall, director of communication; and Clay Farwell, assistant to the president.
The fifth victim was the pilot, John Laswell.
James Huff had only minor injuries. He walked through some woods to a nearby house. He is a member of the Standifer Gap Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The crash of the twin-engine Cessna 421 was in a field at Pine Hill and McDonald roads some two or three miles north of Collegedale.
The plane broke into two large pieces and burst into flames.
A number of fire units and rescue squads sped to the scene.
Collegedale Airport officials said a plane had taken off just before the crash. It was en route to Knoxville.
The plane was registered to the Georgia Cumberland Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Calhoun, Ga.
Amy Maxwell of Hamilton County EMS said there was a report of a loud explosion at 1:17 p.m. She said Tri Community Fire Department and Hamilton County EMS rushed to the scene.
She said that due to the fire, the site remains a hazardous area and was roped off.
She said at 3 p.m. that there was still a search going on for victims of the crash. By 4 p.m., officials confirmed that five people died.
Seventh Day Adventist officials said, "The Southern Union Conference family grieves with the families and coworkers of these men, and will release information on funeral arrangements as it becomes available."
“This is a deep blow to everyone here at Southern,” said Gordon Bietz, Southern Adventist University president. “The immensity of this tragedy goes beyond all of our personal and professional friendships with these dedicated people. We have lost a significant portion of our Conference leadership.”
Emotional gatherings were held on the university campus Thursday evening to pray for the families and friends of the victims. A special vespers program is planned for Friday at 8 p.m. at the Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church. The community is invited to attend.
“The Southern Adventist University family grieves with the family and colleagues of these beloved church members and leaders,” said Dr. Bietz at a gathering of faculty and staff at his home Thursday evening.
The Southern Union Conference will release information on funeral arrangements as it becomes available. More information is available at the Web site of the Georgia-Cumberland Conference, www.gccsda.com
Mr. Cress was a member of Southern Adventist University’s board of trustees, and 1979 ministerial graduate
Mr. Arnall was a 1999 broadcast-communications graduate
Mr. Farwell was a former member of Southern Adventist University’s board of trustees.
Mr. Frost attended Andrews University
Seminary (Berrien Springs, MI), the Seventh-day Adventist seminary for North America, from 1979-1981.
Mr. Laswell was a member of one of the local Seventh-day Adventist churches.