Cause Of Death Released In Fatal Plane Crash That Claimed 6 Lives

GAITHERSBURG, Md. (WJZ) -- As the investigation continues into the cause of the tragedy, we are learning exactly how the six victims died.

Mike Hellgren has more on the medical examiner's findings and how the community is rallying to support the victims.

For the mother and her children, the cause of death was smoke inhalation. Now they're boarding up their house to try and make sure everything is secure. It's a process that has taken many hours. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised to help the surviving husband and daughter.

To contribute to a GoFundMe for the Gemmell family, click here.

New pictures show Devin Gemmell at just seven weeks old, his brother Cole playing outside and their loving mother, Marie. The medical examiner determined all three died of smoke inhalation after a jet trying to land at the Montgomery County Airpark crashed into their house Monday. Crews are now busy trying to shore it up and secure the home.

"It's almost like you're looking at a movie set or something. It's just, `How can that be happening?' It's just horrible. Last night, I kept thinking about the poor woman and her children," said neighbor Jim Siron.

For years, a group called Airpark Concerned Citizens warned something like this could happen, saying the area has become more residential and the airspace has become more congested.

Devin Battley is on the airpark's advisory committee.

"Every concern involving safety around the airport is valid but the problem is this airport, when it was first constructed like most airports, was back around 1960, and there was nothing out here and then we have development and all these people come and live in the neighborhood and then we have problems. It happens all the time," he said.

The pilot, a doctor and healthcare industry CEO, Michael Rosenberg, had more than 4,000 hours of flying time and was a certified instructor. He crashed a plane four years ago in what investigators determined was pilot error.

The medical examiner determined the three people on the plane died of traumatic injuries.

Black box recordings determined the plane slowed down too fast. The NTSB says the jet's systems appeared to function normally.

The NTSB says, despite several pilots warning of birds on the runway, a bird strike did not cause the crash.

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