Federal investigators say the small plane that crashed at DuPage Airport on December 17, killing both people on board, did not show any immediate signs of trouble with its flight controls or engines during an initial review. The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary review of the twin-engine Piper PA-30 found no obvious mechanical red flags, even as the agency stresses that it is far too early to say what caused the deadly takeoff.
What the preliminary report found
The NTSB's first pass at the wreckage "found no anomalies with the flight controls or engines that would have precluded normal operation," according to the Daily Herald. Two witnesses told investigators the engines sounded normal, and airport surveillance video reportedly showed the airplane drift off the runway centerline, climb to about 75 feet, then pitch into a nose-high attitude and bank sharply before hitting the ground. The main wreckage was found about 567 feet west of runway 20R, south of taxiway T.
How investigators say the flight unfolded
Air-traffic control records show the pilot was cleared for takeoff from runway 20R and read back that clearance, but made no further radio transmissions before the plane went down, according to ABC7 Chicago. That recording, combined with the airport video, is helping shape how the NTSB pieces together the brief and tragic flight.
Plane, passengers, and ownership
The aircraft was carrying two people, a pilot and a pilot-rated passenger, who were pronounced dead at the scene, according to NBC Chicago. Officials said the plane was jointly owned by multiple members of the DuPage-based International Flying Club and that both people on board had ties to the club, People reports. For context, the group's website describes the International Flying Club as a nonprofit that owns or leases aircraft for its members at DuPage Airport, International Flying Club notes.
What happens next
The wreckage has been secured for more detailed analysis, and the NTSB says a final report that identifies a probable cause and any contributing factors could take a year or longer to complete, according to the Daily Herald. As is standard, investigators will continue to probe three main areas: the pilot, the aircraft, and the operating environment. Anyone who captured video or has other potentially useful information is being asked to contact the NTSB at [email protected].
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