Family killed in Florida plane crash was heading to the Bahamas for a birthday celebration

Family killed in Florida plane crash was heading to the Bahamas for a birthday celebration Weather conditions are still being considered as a possible factor in the crash - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in The heartbreaking reason a tech entrepreneur was flying his wife, two young children, nanny and family friends to the Bahamas has been revealed. Adam Robinson, 45, chartered a Learjet 60 for the trip from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas, where the group planned to spend about a week celebrating his birthday, sources with direct knowledge told TMZ Tuesday. However, the family getaway instead ended in tragedy Sunday when the plane nosedived into a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, less than 10 miles from Mar-a-Lago, killing all nine people on board. The plane's tail elevator was found scattered between 1.3 and 3.8 miles from the crash site, suggesting it likely broke off before impact, authorities revealed in a news conference Tuesday. However, officials have not determined whether that contributed to the crash or happened as the plane broke apart. The tail elevator is a movable part of an airplane’s tail that helps control the aircraft’s up-and-down movement, allowing the pilot to raise or lower the nose. The passengers included Robinson, his wife, Helen Sharp, 40, their children Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, as well as their nanny, Anita Maria Cetina, and family friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr. The two pilots, Jeffrey Gregory, 55, and Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20, also died. In the days before the crash, Robinson reportedly told his friend, Jesse Ouellette, that his life was “going too well” as his businesses expanded and his family enjoyed life in Aspen, Colorado, Ouellette told TMZ. Robinson was the founder and CEO of Retention.com and RB2B, technology companies focused on helping businesses identify visitors to their websites. He was also associated with MoltSets and became known in the tech industry for building businesses without relying heavily on outside venture capital. Friends and family remembered Gregory as a devoted friend and faithful man who loved flying and had a deep passion for his faith. “His loss will be deeply felt by the software founders who knew him as a friend and colleague,” Ouellette told TMZ. "He challenged the way things were done and was far ahead of his time. It's heartbreaking that we lost him so soon.” Sharp, an Austin-based public relations entrepreneur, was the CEO and founding partner of Influential PR. She also recently launched a ceramics business, Helen Sharp Ceramics, and is remembered by loved ones as a devoted wife, mother and friend. The families of the seven passengers released a joint statement following the tragedy, expressing their grief and remembering the victims. “Adam and Helen were devoted parents, and Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were the light of their lives,” the statement said. “Helen and Adam were the love affair that will last forever.” The families also remembered Reed and Fehr as “full of joy and adventure,” while Cetina was praised for caring for the children “with tenderness and devotion.” The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what caused the crash - and are looking at whether rainy weather at the time was a factor. The pilots reportedly encountered icing conditions and moderate turbulence while flying at about 35,000 feet and asked air traffic controllers for permission to climb to 37,000 feet. Less than 30 seconds later, a pilot issued a mayday call, reporting that the jet was rapidly losing altitude at a rate of 20,000 feet per minute. Investigators are now examining the wreckage, plane records and weather conditions to determine what went wrong. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments