ST. THOMAS - The three men who perished in the fiery airplane crash on St. Croix on Thursday have been identified, police officials said Tuesday.

Melody Rames, V.I. Police Department spokeswoman, said David Bentley, 58, of St. Croix, Elium King, 58, of St. Vincent and Mark Atchley, 50, of Tennessee all were positively identified after autopsies had been completed.

After the crash, forensic officials stated the bodies would need to be identified through dental records but it did not come to that.

Bentley was identified by a piece of jewelry unique to him. King's wedding ring was engraved with his name. Atchley had surgery and still had the pin in his knee.

"We were able to get information from the families regarding the victims," Rames said. Because of the extensive burns there was a possibility that the jewelry would have melted but it did not."

Rames said that without the jewelry and metal pin, forensic investigators would have done dental record comparisons and if that was not available would have used DNA to identify the victims.

The autopsies were conducted late Monday afternoon and concluded the victims died upon impact before the plane burst into flames, according to a police statement.

Paul Cox, senior air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, finished his investigation Monday and is preparing the preliminary report, which is expected to be available next week, he said.

The investigative team, which included representatives from airplane manufacturer Cessna and engine manufacturer Lycoming and a Federal Aviation Administration representative from San Juan, led by Cox, conducted their examination of the site and the wreckage this weekend.

Late Saturday, the charred airplane remains were removed from the crash site to a nearby hangar at Rohlsen Airport, Cox said.

By next week, Cox expects the preliminary report to be available. In another 4-6 months, the factual report could be completed. However, it could take up to a full year before the crash's probable cause is determined by the NTSB.

On Thursday, the 1967 Cessna single-engine plane carrying Bentley, King and Atchley crashed in a field three miles outside of Rohlsen Airport.

Employees of Seaborne Seaplanes were working nearby and noticed the aircraft upon takeoff.

"We had two mechanics working in the hangar and they did observe that aircraft climbing out," Omer Erselcuk, Seaborne Seaplanes president and CEO said. "From their observations, it appeared to be having trouble with the climbing. It appeared to be slower on climb out and wasn't gaining altitude."

A couple hours after the plane crashed, East Airport Road was reopened to traffic. Hours later, V.I. police officials closed the road because onlookers presented a hazard, Rames said.

"I was very, very happy with what the police had done and the steps they had taken and how professional it was when I arrived," Cox said. "It was a good group of people to work with."

- Contact reporter Ailene Torres at 774-8772 ext. 304 or e-mail atorres@dailynews.vi.