> federal investigators are releasing preliminary information about the crash that killed pilot ryan mccaul. we now know that mccaul was taking off on his first solo cross-country flight. in flight school that means the first time taking off and flying to a different airport, landing alone without an instructor and returning to the airport where he started. and we know that mccaul had just over 30 hours of flight experience less than three of them solo. so what went wrong? the owner of mccaul's flight school told investigators he seemed to make a turn earlier than usual and two other witnesses noted the plane seemed to be going too slow and not gaining altitude. both noted a trail of smoke from the engine. so far no evidence of a bird strike or problems with equipment have been found as the cause of his crash. ryan mccaul's funeral and burial are set for tomorrow morning. pat? >> thanks barbara. >>> three of northern virginia's largest business groups are reaffirming their strong support for the bi-county parkway. the proposed roadway would connect prince william and loudoun counties and co

. >> reporter: the week began with the death of one of jake's friends, sophomore ryan mccaul killed inrplane crash sunday. investigators still working to find out what caused the wreck near orange county airport. tonight family and friend are gathering for ryan's viewing. >> what's been great is the way the kids have responded and kind of rallied around it just shows the kind of character of kid we have here. >> reporter: you'll notice on this sign in front of the school next week is spring break here. parents and staff tell me it couldn't come at a better time pap chance for the community to rest and be with family. in spotsylvania county i'm david culvert, news4. >>> preliminary findings are out about the plane crash that killed young ryan mccaul. two witnesses reported seeing a trail of smoke before the engine just before the plane fell to the ground in orange county virginia. the flight school owner says mccaul appeared to make a left turn earlier than usual. he was flying on his first solo trip involving a stop and a return flight. mccaul had just over 30 hours of flight experienc

. >> reporter: before jake's injury students were just learning of sophomore ryan mccaul's death in this airplane crash. the young pilot went down near orange county airport on sunday. investigators still working to find out what happened. tonight, family and friends will gather for ryan's viewing. >> that's one thing i think the river bend student body has always done well anytime there's been any kind of tragedy or misfortune. they've always bound together really well. >> reporter: it's expected many of the kid will come straight from ryan's viewing here to river bend high school for tonight's soccer game which is dedicated to jake. i just spoke with jake's coach. at 6:00 i'll share how he's approaching tonight's game. in spotsylvania county david culvert, news4. >>> now to a developing story overseas where the death toll in a terror attack on a kenyan university now stands at more than 100. pat lawson muse has the latest on this story. >> kenyan officials believe the threat is over now after a gunman stormed the campus today killing nearly 150 people. the rampage started early this mo

. >>> the virginia teen killed flying a plane this week is now laid to rest. 16-year-old ryan mccaul was buried this afternoon in fredericksburg. it followed a fupneral at spotswood baptist church. he died sunday piloting a single-engine plane. he crashed shortly after takeoff from the airport in orange. the cause of the crash is still under investigation. >>> a retail gun store in the district of columbia. there hasn't been one for decades. but police chief cathy lanier told news4's tom sherwood that the city's relaxed gun laws have not been a problem and now she would not object to a well-regulated gun store opening here. >> reporter: the district had banned guns until the supreme court said it was unconstitutional. last year the city said they could license but couldn't ban continue seed/carry weapons. on wamu's politics hour chief cathy lanier said the court ruehlings have not inundated the city with more weapons. >> it's not this surge of people coming in that we're going to see thousands of concealed carry permits. it's just not happening. >> reporter: since the courts have eas