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.