3 dead in Pasco plane crash

ZEPHYRHILLS - Tina Copeland and her 7-year-old daughter Cami were headed for a weekend with family in Lakeland.

The two boarded a private plane Friday night, but less than 40 minutes later something went very wrong.

"The pilot of the aircraft radioed to air traffic control that he was having engine problems and air traffic control attempted to divert him to the nearest airport which would be here," explained Bob Gretz with The National Transportation Safety Board.

The plane went down just a few miles short of the Zephyrhills Airport.

Upon impact, it burst into flames.

In the daylight Saturday morning, officials poured over what's left of the crash that killed all three on board.

The plane is registered to The Stallings Crop Insurance Corporation.

Robert Stallings is the owner. According to his mother's recent obituary, he and Tina Copeland were about to be married.

The obituary was written just last month. Matthew Copeland, Tina's ex-husband and Cami's father lives in Archer, Florida.

He confirms Bob Stallings and Copeland were married just last week.

They were on their honeymoon until a few days ago.

Copeland says Cami was a bright young girl; an ace in school who loved to ride horses.

She loved to sing and loved people. He and his family, he says, are heartbroken.

Investigators say Thomas Long of Hudson was at the controls of the plane.

At this point, other than his report of engine trouble, investigators can't confirm too many other details.

"Basically we look at the pilot, the aircraft and the environment," added Gretz.

The crash may have happened in just a few moments, but figuring out exactly what went wrong could take up to six months.

For the families, the healing process will undoubtedly take much longer.

The NTSB is working with the FAA as well as the planes manufacturer, Piper, to try and pinpoint what went wrong in this crash.