Rockford sgt. among 3 killed in Virgin Islands plane crash

Rockford sgt. among 3 killed in Virgin Islands plane crash

KNOXVILLE (WATE/AP) -- A National Guard master sergeant from Rockford, is among three people killed in a small plane crash last week in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Authorities said Tuesday that Mark Atchley, 50, was identified from steel pins used during surgery on a knee.

Atchley was a master sergeant with the 228th Combat Communications Squadron in the Tennessee Air National Guard.

Mark Atchley's parents say their son would want them to celebrate his life instead of mourning his death. Mom Jane Atchley says, "He waterskied, hang gliding and I don't think he ever bungee jumped, but he probably would have if he had a chance."

Mrs. Atchley says her son was a thrill seeker who lived life to the fullest, but she often worried living life on the edge would catch up to him. "I always knew it would," she says, "But he went the way he would have wanted to go I think."

Master Sergeant Atchley served for 28 years with the Air National Guard. The Atchleys say he enjoyed traveling the world with the guard and he loved sailing and spent a lot of time in the Virgin Islands. "He'd been working on boats lately," explains his mom. "In fact he just finished re-wiring Jimmy Buffet's boat."

Atchley was in a small plane flying from St. Croix to St. Thomas when he died. "The plane was taking off and had a mechanical problem," explains Mrs. Atchley. "They did call back the tower to say they were turning around and they just didn't make it. They crashed in a field." (

Dad Fred Atchley says they couldn't be more proud of his service to his country. They describe their son as a quiet man, with a happy disposition and a big heart. "Each morning we get up and have a good cry and that helps us get through the day," says Mr. Atchley. "We couldn't do it if it weren't for our church family, friends and prayers," adds Mrs. Atchley.

Mark Atchley leaves behind two adult children, his mom, dad and a sister.

Officials said jewelry helped identify the other victims as Elium King of St. Vincent and David Bentley of St. Croix. Both were 58.

The single-engine Cessna 177 was en route to St. Thomas when it crashed Thursday into a field and burst into flames.

Federal officials said the pilot reported problems after takeoff and tried to return to the airport.

Some portions of this report copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.