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"The aircraft was doing touch-and-go landings at the airport," Peters said, describing a maneuver in which a plane touches down on the runway and immediately takes off again. "When he was departing, he struck the left side of the hangar on the last touch-and-go he attempted."
New Garden Township Police Lt. Kevin McCarthy said the men were 38 and 45 years old, and each was related to one of the children, who were aged 12 and eight. Their names were not being released pending notification of their families.
The plane, a Piper Arrow PA28 registered to New Garden Aviation, was flying under visual flight rules, Peters said. The National Transportation Safety Board had been called to the scene to investigate.
"Since it is a non-towered airport, we have no air traffic control tapes," he said.
The two-alarm fire caused by the crash engulfed part of a hangar, the plane and two cars parked next to the hangar, said Russ Kilmer, spokesman for the Avondale Fire Co.
"The plane was fairly well-destroyed in the fire," said Kilmer. "There is not much left."
"We are in the process of extinguishing the fire and removing the bodies," he said around 7:30 p.m.
Kilmer was not aware if there was a distress call from the plane before the crash, he said.
"There are (a) whole lot of pieces we are putting together," said Kilmer.
The FAA, New Garden Police Department and the Chester County Coroner's office are investigating the incident, he said.
The airport, which is used mostly for recreational purposes and does have a flying school, was shut down by the FAA and airspace over the airport was restricted, he said.
Despite the restriction on air space, several helicopters hovered over the airport.
Kilmer's statements came after reporters from television stations, radios and newspapers swarmed around the entrance of the airport.
Emergency vehicles entered and exited the facility including West Grove Fire Department, Hockessin Fire Department, State Police, Good Will Ambulance Co., New Garden Police, Kennett Square Fire Co. and Southern Chester County EMC.
Five traffic police stationed at the entrance of the airport turned away several people who attempted to enter the facility.
Those who could not enter the airport parked their cars nearby and stood at the entrance. Around 5 p.m., small billows of smoke could still be seen emanating from the complex.
Township Supervisor Steve Allaband drove to the airport when he saw smoke in the air, he said.
"I saw the smoke from my house and headed over this way," said Allaband. "I just drove this way to see what it was." When asked how he felt about the death of four individuals at the airport, he said, "not good."
Doris Denist of West Chester stood at the entrance of the airport in hopes of hearing word from her husband and son who she believed to be at the airport, she said. "I saw the news and came here today," she said.
She had not been able to get in touch with them by cell phone but could see their cars from the entrance, she said. However she was told by authorities that they were not involved.
"The trooper said my family was not involved," said Denist.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
