LONG WAIT FOR ANSWERS IN PLANE-HOUSE CRASH
Federal government investigation will take between one to two years
It will take upward of two years for the federal government to finish investigating a Lyon Township plane crash that killed three people, according to a spokesperson with the National Transportation Safety Board.
On Saturday afternoon, a single-engine Piper PA24 aircraft crashed into a Lyon Township home, about half a mile north of its final destination, the Oakland Southwest Airport in New Hudson. All three occupants inside the plane died including David Compo, 60, 2020 president of the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan and owner of Novi-based Compo Builders Inc., his wife, Michelle, 55, and their son, Dawson, 18, a 2020 graduate of Detroit Catholic Central High School. The plane was owned by David Compo, a licensed and experienced pilot.
The crash caused the Mudzwova family’s home, located between Grispen and Cider Mill Drive in the Orchards of Lyon subdivision, to catch fire and become fully engulfed; however, the entire family was able to make it out safely before first responders arrived on scene.
Peter Knudson, spokesperson for the NTSB, told The Oakland Press that the agency’s investigations into fatal aviation accidents usually take 12 to 24 months to complete. He added that a preliminary report will be released within the next two weeks and that the plane’s wreckage was planned to be removed Monday.
Local law enforcement agencies assist the NTSB in investigating aviation accidents, at least in the earlier stages with witness information, according to Knudson. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigator was on scene Saturday to gather information.
The Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of the bodies and performed autopsies. As of Monday, the results of those autopsies were pending.
Michael Stoskopf, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan, told The Oakland Press on Monday that Christopher Compo, David’s brother, is still finalizing plans for a memorial service.
A GoFundMe fundraiser was started on Saturday for the Mudzwova family by Lisa Rockwell, a friend and neighbor, to cover the damage to their house and support them while the investigation is still ongoing. As of Monday afternoon, over $26,000 had been raised of the $20,000 goal.
Around 4 p.m. Saturday, Lyon Township, Green Oak and South Lyon Fire Departments responded to the scene and “made an aggressive attack on the fire,” which was engulfing the plane and house upon their arrival, according to a Sunday release by the Oakland County Sheriff’s office and a Lyon Township Fire Department Facebook post.
According to preliminary information released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Compo Family, residents of Northville, flew down to Canton, Georgia on Dec. 29 to visit family. They were planning to land at the airport, located at 57751 Pontiac Trail, on Saturday. For now, the FAA is reporting that the plane crashed “under unknown circumstances” as the investigation continues.
The Compos are survived by David’s mother, Janet Compo, who served as HBA’s president in 1995, his brother and sister-in-law, Christopher and Lisa Compo, as well as other family.