Newlyweds from Seattle area died in plane crash

Coming off their honeymoon celebration, Robert Stimmel hopped into the pilot seat of a Beechcraft Bonanza with his wife, Maria Stimmel, in the passenger seat.

Shortly after takeoff Friday from the Orlando Executive Airport, tragedy struck the Washington state couple.

The aircraft crashed into Clear Lake off Rio Grande Avenue in south Orlando.

Stimmel was a ski-school director at Mohan Skiing & Boarding outside of Seattle.

His wife was an instructor there.

Their identities were Tuesday.

Mohan Skiing & Boarding wrote on its Facebook page that the newlyweds were returning home after celebrating their honeymoon.

“We appreciate the support of the entire Mohan community as we recover from this tragic loss and continue preparing for the upcoming season,” the Facebook

released page said.

They were headed to Gainesville, Texas, according to the Orange County Sheriff ’s Office.

They took off from Orlando Executive Airport about 11:15 a.m. and nose-dived into the lake less than 15 minutes later. Both were dead when nearby boaters and Orlando fire crews reached them.

Sheriff Jerry Demings originally told reporters the victims appeared to be a man in his 50s and a teen girl. That was before they confirmed the identities.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what led up to the crash. Witnesses reported hearing the plane’s engine and then what sounded like an explosion.

Several boaters and kayakers who were on the water when the plane went down rushed to help.

They spotted the victims on board, but weren’t able to get to them, Demings said. Orlando firefighters were next to reach the submerged plane.

sallen@tribpub.com, twalden@tribpub.com