4 bodies identified near plane crash in Fla. Everglades

NORTHWEST BROWARD, Fla. (WSVN) -- Investigators have officially recovered all four of the deceased after a plane crash in the Everglades.

Authorities said 46-year-old Bruce Barber of Fort Lauderdale, his wife Karen Barber and son Payton Barber, along with family friend Philip Marsh were on the plane when it crashed.

Now investigators are left to figure out what went wrong on Sunday night, as the plane headed back from Gainesville. Barber, a die-hard Gator fan, bought the plane to fly himself, his wife and his children to watch University of Florida football games in Gainesville. They were at the game Saturday night.

Friends of the family have said that the pilot had reported smoke in the cockpit during a mayday call, just before the crash about half a mile west of US 27 and south of the Broward/Palm Beach County line, at around 6 p.m. Sunday.

Eric Elliott, the victim's business partner said his friends and family are devastated by the event. "We've been blindsided by this event," he said. "Flying to Bruce was like driving a car. It's still not really sunk in that my buddy and friend and partner of almost 20 years is not going to walk in that door tomorrow."

Barber's 10-year-old daughter Chloe did not attend the game. "She's surrounded by her family, grandparents, aunts and uncles," Elliot said. "She has the spirit of her father, she really does. I saw her this morning. She smiled and gave me a hug, and I was strengthened by her resolve."

By late Tuesday afternoon, investigators had begun wrapping things up at the scene, recovering all four bodies and most of what had remained of the aircraft.

The Broward Sheriff's Office, FAA and NTSB all coordinated in the investigation, which remains on-going. The remains of the plane will be brought to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport for the continuing investigation.

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