Crash Victims Died of Blunt Force Trauma

The Charleston County Coroner said on Thursday that the man and woman who died in the on Dewees Island were killed by blunt force trauma.

Lucas Smith, 40, and Cora Lee "Carly" Donohue, 27, both of Mount Pleasant were already dead when medical personnel reached them at the Isle of Palms marina, said Scott Ramsey, deputy coroner.

Read more about the Dewees Island crash.

Witnesses told sheriff's deputies that they saw the pair take off from the water in their "flying boat" just off the beach at Dewees Island. The aircraft, which is essentially an inflatable raft with hanggliding apparatus and fan attached, encountered some sort of problem.

"They were up in the air and then suddenly came down," said Maj. Jim Brady, Charleston County Sheriff's spokesman.

A boater transported Smith and Donohue to the marina at Isle of Palms where emergency medical workers provided care, but it was already too late.

The Federal Aviation Administration today was at Isle of Palms investigating the accident. The light sport aircraft was not properly licensed with the FAA, according to spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen.

She characterized the craft as a flying boat like the sort sold by Aliseo. The FAA has a document that provides more information on light sport aircraft.