Friday, May 22, 2015

NTSB RELEASED ITS PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE PIPER PA 46-350P PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED 2 MEN IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON






















MAY 22, 2015

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on Friday on a plane that crashed into the Spokane River and killed two men. 

Investigators said the Piper PA 46-350P crashed into the Spokane River during an attempted landing at Felts Field on May 7. Officials said the plane had undergone an annual inspection at Rocket Engineering. They said the flight was a post-maintenance test flight. It was only supposed to last 40 minutes.

Instead the plan ended up crashing into the Spokane River killing Richard Runyon, 64, and Lydon Amestory, 60. 

Authorities said the Federal Aviation Administration captured the entire flight sequence. Almost immediately after takeoff the plane started turning to the right. The plane began a more aggressive turn to the right about 1.5 miles into the flight. 

Air traffic control asked the pilot if everything was ok and the pilot responded, "That's a negative." Control tower personnel stated that during this period the airplane was banking about 90 degrees to the right and descending. They assumed it was about to crash. 

Then, the airplane appeared to recover. The pilot reported, "We are trying to get under control here, be back with you."

Officials said the plane reached Newman Lake and the pilot reports that things seemed to be stabilizing. He told tower control, "We are going to stay out here for a little while and play with things little bit and see if we can get back."

Investigators said the plane began a gradual left turn and the pilot requested and was approved to make a landing. The pilot said, "We have a control emergency there, a hard right aileron." A few minutes later he reported the plane was on a three mile final. Officials said the plane remained closely aligned with the runway centerline throughout the remaining descent. 

Tower controllers along with multiple witnesses reported that as the plane passed close to the taxiway, the engine sound increased and the airplane began a sharp roll to the right. 

They said the plane collided with the river just north of the airplane. 

Both wings with the horizontal stabilizer and elevators separated during the impact and the forward cabin sustained crush damage through to the area of the main wing spar. All major airframe components sank within a few minutes of impact. 

The plane was recovered by a diving team from the Spokane County Sheriff's department over a two day period a week after the accident.