3 family members died when their small plane crashed into a home in a Detroit suburb

<p><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5f19fecb3ad8614b2e33ca46-2113/roberto chiartano shutterstockcom.jpg" border="0" alt="Piper general aviation plane" data-mce-source="Roberto Chiartano/Shutterstock.com"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>A small private plane crashed into a home in a Detroit suburb on Saturday, killing all three people on board.</p><p>The crash started a fire in the Lyon Township home, but the family of five who live there escaped without any injuries. The family's cat died, according to news reports.&nbsp;</p><p>The family told <a href="https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2021/01/03/investigators-look-into-cause-of-plane-crash-in-lyon-township/">local NBC affiliate WDIV</a> that they had been sitting in the living room, about to watch a movie, before going into the kitchen to grab snacks. The plane crashed into the living room moments later.</p><p>David S. Compo, a Detroit area homebuilder and the former president of the Detroit area's home builders association, his wife Michelle, and son Dawson, were identified as the three deceased passengers by the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HBAofSoutheasternMichigan/">Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan on Facebook.</a></p><p>Compo and his family had flown to Canton, Georgia, on December 29th, and were en route back to the metro Detroit area, according to the Homebuilders Association. They intended to land at the Oakland Airport, less than a mile south of where they crashed.&nbsp;</p><p>The plane, a single-engine Piper PA-24, crashed into the home just before 4 pm ET, the Federal Aviation <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2021/01/02/report-small-plane-crashes-into-lyon-township-home-causes-fire/4114601001/">The Detroit News reported, citing the Federal Aviation Administration.</a>&nbsp;The plane was registered to Aircom LLC, <a href="https://flightaware.com/resources/registration/N8347P">according to FAA records</a>, which shares a Novi, Michigan, address with Compo Builders, Compo's company.&nbsp;</p><p>The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash, according to The Detroit News. The FAA has not yet responded to an Insider request for comment.</p><p>Compo was elected as the president of Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan for 2020, leaving the post on New Year's Eve, just days before the crash.&nbsp; He was also awarded Builder of the Year and Developer of the Year, according to <a href="https://www.hourdetroit.com/faces-of-detroit/the-face-of-luxury-building-and-remodeling-david-s-compo-compo-builders-inc/">Hour Detroit</a>. Compo's company has worked on more than 1,000 homes and remodeling projects, and he was also the owner of a real estate brokerage firm, Compo Brokerage.&nbsp;</p><p>Dawson Compos was a 2020 graduate of Detroit Catholic Central High School, according to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DCCShamrocks/photos/a.757849180941116/3692844760774862/'type=3">school's Facebook page</a>.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/three-dead-after-private-plane-crash-in-detroit-suburb-2021-1#comments">Join the conversation about this story &#187;</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/london-streets-left-deserted-during-covid-19-lockdown-2020-3">Inside London during COVID-19 lockdown</a></p>
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