A tragic plane crash near Covington Municipal Airport in Georgia claimed the lives of a husband and wife on February 15, 2025.
The couple, identified as James Hardee, 62, and Janet Hardee, 59, were aboard a Rockwell Commander, a small single-engine aircraft with only four seats, when it lost communication shortly after takeoff.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the plane took off from Covington Municipal Airport just after 11:00 p.m. on Saturday.
However, there was no further communication from the aircraft after it ascended. Authorities later found the wreckage in the woods just north of the runway.
Both passengers were discovered at the scene and pronounced dead by emergency responders.
The Newton County Coroner confirmed the identities of the victims as James and Janet Hardee. Janet Hardee was a beloved first-grade teacher at Putnam County Primary School.
The Putnam County Charter School System expressed its grief over the loss, offering condolences to her family and the community in a statement shared on social media.
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The FAA confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is overseeing the investigation into the crash.
In an update posted on social media, the NTSB stated, “NTSB is investigating the Feb. 15 crash of a Rockwell AC11 airplane near Covington, Georgia.” As of now, the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The incident follows another aviation tragedy earlier in the month when two planes collided on a runway at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona, resulting in one death and several injuries.
Among the planes involved was one owned by Mötley Crüe’s Vince Neil, though he was not aboard at the time.
