Authorities use DNA to ID victims of Cambria County plane crash

Cambria Co., PA (WJAC) — During a press conference Monday morning, officials in Cambria County released the names of the victims of last month's fatal plane crash near Ebensburg.

Authorities say DNA testing positively identified the two men as Mark LaMantia, 54, of Ebensburg and Donald Cox, 54, of Nanty Glo.

Investigators say the two men suffered blunt force trauma injuries in the crash and were "killed instantly."

“I promised their loved ones they’d get them back and they have," Cambria County coroner Jeff Lees said.

Authorities say the two men were "best friends" and frequently traveled together via plane.

On the morning of June 18th, officials say the pair took off from the Ebensburg Airport en route to Ocean City, Maryland.

Investigators say the twin-engine plane went down a wooded area between Ebensburg and Summerhill.

Officials say it took investigators over three days to fully recover the pieces of the plane.

Authorities say the NTSB is still investigating how and why the plane crashed and those results could take at least a year to be released.

"These families now have closure," Lees added.

ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRflsK1tM6roK2hlah6tr%2FEZpunmV2pvG61w2atopuknrq0ec6fZJyZnZe%2Fqq2MnKaupqSuerG4wKecZpuilsCp