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NTSB releases preliminary information in fatal Daytona Beach plane crash

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A National Transportation Safety Board report offers some insight into the moments before a small plane crashed at Daytona Beach International Airport, killing a flight instructor and her student pilot.
 
Officials said Marlene Mork, 22, and Gabriel Falcao, 22, had just taken off from the airport when the plane crashed.
 
It could be a year or longer before investigators know exactly what caused the flight school Cessna to crash and burn.
 
According to the NTSB, a witness reported seeing the aircraft turning back toward the airport. The witness said the plane's engine was running but the plane was unable to stay in the air.
 
A second witness, an airport employee, said he heard what sounded like a backfire before the crash.
 
Officials say Mork and Falcao were doing takeoffs and landings. Both were from the nearby Phoenix East Aviation Flight School.
 
It's not the first crash in the school's history. In the last 25 years, there have been five others, including a fatal crash in 2011. NTSB officials said they will take those previous incidents into consideration.
 
Channel 9's Blaine Tolison asked officials from Phoenix East Aviation Flight School for a comment about the crash but has yet to get a response.
 
When Tolison stopped by the flight school on Tuesday, he noticed several flowers and cards from the community expressing thoughts and prayers for the student and staff member.