CLEARWATER, Fla. — The investigation into what went wrong when a plane crashed into a Clearwater mobile home park could take up to a year, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The airplane left from Vero Beach, Florida, and was set to land at Clearwater Airpark (CLW), which is just 3 miles from where the plane crashed.
The pilot was flying a 1979 single-engine Beech Bonanza V35B. Aviation experts tell 10 Investigates it’s a complicated plane to fly. Unlike other area airports, the Clearwater Airpark is uncontrolled, meaning it’s up to the pilot to turn the runway lights on himself.
10 Investigates spoke to mechanic and pilot Curt Ericson who was at the airstrip Thursday night. He says the plane flew parallel right over, but if the lights weren’t on, it would’ve looked like a dark hole. Aviation expert Mark Weinkrantz says if he was still talking to air traffic control, he would have been on the wrong frequency to turn on the lights.
According to the website FlightAware, the pilot made a loop around Clearwater.
“He was gaining air speed, gaining altitude,” Ericson said.
Weinkrantz says it’s all something the NTSB will be looking into.
“There will be a 24-hour report. Then, they have up to a year. There’s a lot of details involved and collect every nut and bolt they find and dig into the history, as well," Weinkrantz said.
He says the first thing they will be looking into will be the maintenance records. NTSB investigators have already been to the scene. The investigator will document it and examine the aircraft. Then, the aircraft will be taken be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation. Then the investigation will focus on three primary areas: the pilot, the aircraft and the operating environment.
10 Investigates asked the administration at the Vero Beach Regional Airport for any insight into whether the pilot fueled up the aircraft before leaving Vero Beach or if there was any knowledge of the plane's maintenance records.
The airport director says, “As it relates to your inquiry regarding the aircraft N6659L: The Airport has no knowledge of the aircraft’s fuel status or maintenance records, as these functions are not performed by the Airport.”