The aircraft crashed in a wooded area shortly after takeoff just after noon, and the student, Delilah Van Ness, her mother, Susan Van Ness, her high school flight instructor, Paul Pelletier, and passenger Frank Rodriguez were found dead at the scene about 12 hours after the accident.

“No reports were received indicating an aircraft in distress or that a plane had crashed,” Vermont State Police said in a news release.

The group flew to Basin Harbor that morning from Middletown, Connecticut, for brunch. After leaving the restaurant, the aircraft was reportedly seen on the runway at Basin Harbor, but no one has reported seeing it take off. 

According to Boston Fox affilliate WFXT-TV, Delilah Van Ness earned her student pilot certificate in Pelletier’s aerospace and manufacturing class at Middletown High School, but it’s not clear how many hours she had or whether she was flying on Sunday.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

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The company said it has begun installing the assembly tooling and production line systems, marking “a significant milestone along [Beta’s] path to delivering its electric aircraft to military and commercial customers.

• READ MORE: Beta Technologies’ Electric Aircraft Completes Cross-Border Flight

The production facility, which covers 188,500 square feet, is expected to result in the creation of hundreds of jobs as Beta ramps up to a maximum production rate of 300 aircraft annually. The facility is located on a 40-acre site with the potential to double its size if necessary.

“The team here at [Beta] is excited to enter the next phase of our growing electric aerospace business,” said Kyle Clark, CEO and founder of Beta. “We have worked through research, engineering, prototyping, test flying, initial phases of certification, and now we are entering our next important step of starting production in an inspiring facility. The internal [Beta] team along with many awesome local contractors, tradespeople, and civil servants have challenged each other to create a beautiful, sustainable, and functional building for producing the future of aviation. We are incredibly thankful to this community.”

• READ MORE: Beta Technologies Reveals Electric Aircraft In Development

Thus far, Beta has flown more than 500 piloted flights on its own in-house-built battery systems and conducted more than 10,000 hours of testing on electric motors produced on its pilot production lines, the company said. Because of partnerships with many of its main suppliers, according to Beta, the company has conducted most of its test flights, totaling 26,000 miles, using the same supplier parts and systems to be implemented on its production aircraft.

The company also said it will use a Garmin avionics suite for its integrated flight deck. Beta said it has collaborated with Garmin to tailor its standard commercial products to its IFR-capable aircraft. The company has also partnered with numerous other aerospace suppliers for key systems and materials, including lithium-ion battery cells, propellers, and exterior lighting. Some of those suppliers have provided systems installed in the company’s test aircraft and simulators.

Beta also noted that Monday’s opening adds to its other operations in Vermont, including its R&D headquarters and a maintenance and training hangar in South Burlington, pilot manufacturing facilities in Williston, and a battery research center in St. Albans.

“The opening of the production facility is incredibly good news for Vermont and another huge step forward for Beta,” said former Vermont U.S. senator Patrick Leahy. “I’m thrilled for Kyle and the whole team at Beta to see their hard work pay off, and I’m excited to continue to watch them thrive, innovate, and grow in the Green Mountain State.”

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My frustrated instructor directed me to a nearby grass strip. “This might help,” he said, noting that “grass is more forgiving.” He was right. Despite a slight crosswind, my first turf landing was straight and smooth. The natural surface seemed to embrace the airplane’s wheels rather than repel them like asphalt did.

• FAA Acknowledges Some Pilots Prefer Operating ‘On the Grass’

Grass strips have also worked wonders over the years for nervous passengers, including my wife, whose attitude toward flying took a positive turn after our first visit to a turf field in upstate New York. While some of the effect might be psychological, there is no doubt that grass runways have an appealing feel that makes them attractive destinations. Below are a few inviting grass fields that are ideal for backcountry beginners.  

Lee Bottom Airport (64I)

Hanover, Indiana

Few grass runways are more inviting than this field on the Ohio River, roughly halfway between Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio. For starters, the strip is just over 4,000 feet long and 100 feet wide, so pilots who are new to grass should feel comfortable there. The airport is also an example of what many pilots would like to see more often—an unpaved airport that has grown steadily and is open to the public. It hasn’t been easy, though. The airport was a gritty aircraft salvage yard and later the site of a lumber business before becoming a general aviation hub. A vintage video tells the story.

Smiley Creek Airport (U87)

Smiley Creek, Idaho

The generous size of this strip, 4,900 feet long and 150 feet wide, does not make it an easy destination. After all, the airport is nestled in mountains at an elevation of about 7,900 feet msl, so you should be up to date on mountain-flying skills and have a strong sense for how your aircraft will perform at high elevations and higher density altitude levels. Still, as mountain runways go, this one is not especially daunting, and the scenery seems well worth the extra flight-planning effort. The Idaho Division of Aeronautics publishes a guide to help pilots prepare for the trip.

Shelburne Airport (VT8)

Shelburne, Vermont

You could make a case for Shelburne as an ideal place for a student to learn to fly because it has the feel of a sleepy, old-fashioned country airport. However, it is just a few nautical miles from Burlington Airport (KBTV) and is tucked under the 1,500-foot floor of the big field’s Class C airspace. That gives learners plenty of opportunities to hone their radio skills by talking with ATC. For travelers to the Burlington area, Shelburne is a great alternative to the airlines.

Sunbury Airport (71N)

Sunbury, Pennsylvania

On approach to Sunbury, you might wonder why there is a public airstrip on an island in the middle of the Susquehanna River. The answer: Because the mail must go through. According to the Northumberland County Historical Society, the U.S. Department of Commerce established an emergency landing field there in 1920 after poor visibility repeatedly forced airmail pilots to land on a farmer’s field on the island. The field’s 250-foot width makes it especially attractive today, but pilots should beware of groundhog holes on the runway’s southeast edge.

Columbia Airport (O22)

Columbia, California

Pilots who are new to landing on grass and might be a bit tentative about trying this airport’s 2,607-foot turf strip can opt for the 4,673-foot asphalt runway. Columbia is known for its fly-in camping facilities that lead to many aviation groups organizing events there. Visiting pilots can pitch tents at one of 20 campsites that include picnic tables and barbecues. You are also free to camp under your airplane’s wing. Airport officials say the $10-per-night camping fee includes the overnight aircraft tiedown charge.

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