NTSB Releases Preliminary Report From Plane Crash

The NTSB has released a preliminary report regarding a plane crash that happened in mid-December in the Asheville area. That plane crash shut down a 3 mile stretch of Interstate 26 southeast of Asheville. The FAA says that on December 14, a pilot and an instructor from the LIFT Academy were on a cross-country flight from Knoxville to Myrtle Beach when they felt a “shudder” followed by a loss of engine power. The plane also lost oil pressure and the duel engine control unit. The engine restarted briefly then lost power again shortly afterward.

The flight instructor was able to restart the engine again, but the cockpit began to fill with smoke before the engine lost power for a final time. The pilot of the aircraft then declared mayday and then went down in a fiery crash on the interstate. The pilot and instructor were both transported to the hospital, one with minor injuries, the other with serious injurie.

According to the report from the FAA…”The airplane wreckage was moved to a secure facility for further examination. At the time the airplane was recovered, a connecting rod was observed separated from the engine”. The report goes on to say the ” The airplane received its airworthiness certificate on September 25, 2023, and it’s last 100-hr maintenance inspection was completed on December 9, just 5 days before the crash. At that time, the airplane and engine had accrued a total of 95 flight hours.” The FAA is continuing to investigate that crash.