Preliminary Report Released About Washington State Plane Crash

March 2, 2012

About 20 minutes after takeoff from Renton Municipal Airport,  a Cessna 172 plane crashed and killed three people on February 15, reports the Tukwila Reporter.

A 31-year old man, a 30-year-old man (the pilot), both swim coaches at local high schools, and a 29-year-old woman, of Federal Way, were killed in the accident.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the plane smashed into trees on the western face of Mount Si in North Bend.

The three were on a "personal sightseeing flight," according to the report. After leaving Renton at about 1:35 a.m., the plane crashed at about 1:54 a.m.

"The airplane fragmented upon impacting trees and up-sloping mountainous terrain, which resulted in substantial structural damage," according to the preliminary report.

The NTSB expects to release a probable cause report by the end of the year, said the NTSB crash investigator.

"The investigation is still continuing," he said. "It  takes several months to do a final report."

The ongoing investigation will include toxicology reports, additional records on the pilot, and further interviews with witnesses.

"Fragmented airframe components, including both crushed wings, were noted below dozens of felled branches on an approximate 120-degree magnetic track leading to the fuselage, which was upside down," according to the report. "No evidence of pre-impact oil leaks, fuel filter blockage, flight control anomalies, or fire was noted."

The aviation lawyers at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy send our condolences to the families and friends of the three people who died in the crash.

Related Posts