NTSB publishes preliminary report on Jamestown plane crash

JAMESTOWN, NY (WKBW) — The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on the August 5 Jamestown plane crash.

According to the NTSB, the Cessna 750 took off from Chautauqua County Dunkirk Airport (DKK) and was en route to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to pick up parts and a mechanic at DKK for work on another company aircraft. According to the NTSB, data showed that the pilots climbed the aircraft to an altitude of 10,000 feet above sea level and the air traffic controller then attempted to contact the flight crew several times but received no response. The air traffic controller then began transmitting on the emergency frequency and found that the aircraft was displaying a distress transponder code while descending to 7,800 feet. The air traffic controller in Buffalo then made intermittent contact with the flight crew that included “very garbled” transmissions, and the flight crew's last transmission included “we are about to land in Jamestown.” According to the NTSB, the plane struck the ground in a flat flight attitude about 200 feet from the approach end of the runway.

The pilot was seriously injured and the co-pilot suffered minor injuries.

On the day of the crash, officials noticed the plane, said airport crew immediately called an emergency number and the emergency plan immediately went into effect.

Two men survive small plane crash at Jamestown Regional Airport

According to the NTSB, the pilot was unavailable for an interview due to his injuries, but the copilot reported that they smelled “electrical smoke” while climbing, but had no visible smoke. According to the NTSB, while descending at about 10,000 feet, the copilot heard the pitch trim “clacking” and that the aircraft “trimmed down and accelerated… well over 250 [knots] with nose trim down.” The Master Caution and control panel segments illuminated along with other Crew Alerting System (CAS) messages and the copilot attempted to contact the air traffic controller but was unsuccessful.

The NTSB said that after landing, the cabin was filled with smoke and the plane was engulfed in fire. The pilot was able to open the main cabin door and both crew members were able to exit the plane.