BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The NTSB has released its preliminary investigation report into a flight last week near Brunswick.
The Piper PA-44-180 was heading from Concord Regional Airport (JQF) to Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport (CRG). Representatives of ATP Flight School, to which the plane is registered, said earlier in the day the pilots had flown the plane from CRG to JQF.
The preliminary report states the plane “was destroyed following an inflight breakup.”
Capt. Wayne Ziskal, Associate Professor of Aeronautics at Jacksonville University, read over the report and said it leaves more questions than answers.
“An inflight breakup is something that is very rare unless certain things are exceeded such as aero-speed and structural limitations of the aircraft,” Capt. Ziskal said.
Ziskal described exactly what “inflight breakup” means.
“It means certain parts of the airplane depart the airplane for whatever reason,” he said. “The airplane starts to lose pieces, disintegrate. However you want to look at it. It no longer is a balanced, stable flight.”
According to the report, the plane was flying at 8,000 ft. when air traffic control instructed the pilots to descend. The command was acknowledged by the pilots, but four minutes later- without any further contact from the pilots- radar reordered the plane at just 300 ft.
The plane crashed moments later in a marsh area near Brunswick, Georgia. Two pilots were on board. Both died in the crash.
Action News has made repeated attempts to speak with officials at ATP Flight School.
Monday reporter Kristy Wolski went back to the headquarters and finally got this response from an ATP Flight School manager.
“Due to the active and ongoing NTSB and FAA investigation we are unable to comment at this time.”
Several witnesses reported hearing a “thud” or “explosion.” Some observed debris falling from above.
Ziskal said it is way too early to tell whether the crash could have been prevented.
“There could have been something from maintenance point of view that could have been prevented. We do not know,” he said. “It could have been some sort of maneuver induced by the pilots which structurally overstressed the airplane. We do not know. It could have been, I don’t expect it to be, but it could have been weather. We do not know. We also don’t know if something like a bird hit it.”
The final NTSB report is not expected for at least six months from the time of the crash.