Kansas family killed in plane crash in Fla. swamp

Skooter reporting 06/09/12

A prominent businessman, his wife and their four children were killed Thursday when their single-turboprop, fixed-wing plane went down into a swampy area of central Florida.

The plane was heading home to Junction City from the Bahamas when it encountered trouble and went down about 12:30 p.m. in the Tiger Creek Preserve, the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Florida said.

The sheriff’s office said that deputies were able to reach the crash area by helicopters, but it was reported that there were no survivors. The cause of the crash was not immediately determined and parts of the plane were found 3 ½ miles away, investigators said.

Ron Bramlage, 45, wife Rebecca, 43, and the couple’s kids, Brandon, 15; Boston, 13; Beau, 11; and 8-year-old Roxane were killed in the tragic incident. Bramlage a businessman in Junction City who owned Roadside Ventures LLC piloted the 2006 Pilatus Pc-12/47.

Junction City Mayor Pat Landes said the Bramlages supported many local projects and provided college scholarships and is well known in town and at Kansas State University, where the basketball arena is named for Ron Bramlage’s grandfather

The crash site is only accessible by helicopters and all terrain vehicles (ATV).

AP