THIS is the horrifying moment a plane crashed into a home killing the pilot and two others.
The plane crash took place near a highway in Victoria, Minnesota, at approximately 5.45pm on Saturday.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the single-engine plane took off from the Alexandria Municipal Airport and was set to land at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie when it went down and crashed into a vacant lot and a home.
An Omaha surgeon and two relatives have been identified as those killed in the accident.
Jacob Mertes, 42, of Libby, Mont., was on the plane with his wife, Sara Mertes (Huddleston), 37, and stepfather, Dr. James Edney, 72, who was the pilot, according to Jo Mertes, the aunt of Jacob.
Dr Edney was professor emeritus in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Department of Surgery.
No one on the ground was injured, according to officials.
National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) investigators say the plane was a Mooney M20M aircraft.
Investigators are currently trying to determine exactly what caused the crash.
Robert Katz, a 40-year aviation expert who is a certified flight instructor and commercial pilot, analyzed the crash, listening to the audio communication between the pilot and traffic control leading up to the crash and watching footage of the aftermath.
He told the Star Tribune: “It's an absolute miracle that no one on the ground was hurt by this.
PILOT 'IN TROUBLE'
"Listening to audio of the pilot, he was clearly in trouble."
"I believe that as he was descending, he became disoriented in the clouds,” Katz added.
Mike Folkerts, NTSB air safety investigator for the central region, confirmed there were three fatalities and expressed condolences to friends and family.
The pilot did not make a distress call, Folkerts said, adding that the pilot contacted the control tower for normal landing but made several deviations from the planned route.
"Our hearts go out to them," he said.
Folkerts said the medical examiner's office will soon release identification of victims, while a preliminary report of the crash will come out in two weeks.
The full report will take 12-18 months.
'TRAGIC EVENT'
There is debris in two areas, at the site along Highway 5 and also in an area to the south, according to the Carver County Sheriff Jason Kamerud.
"It's a tragic event for the friends and family, and everyone involved," he said.
Folkertz said some pieces, including a left horizontal stabilizer, fell off before the crash.
Victoria Mayor Deb McMillan called the incident a "tragic situation," adding: "Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and all the loved ones of those involved."
Shocking video from a neighbor's home security camera shows the plane hitting the ground before exploding into flames in the vacant lot and skidding towards the home.
The footage also shows people running to help after the crash.
Highway 5 reopened Sunday morning.
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