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The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary investigation report last week on the fatal September 28 crash at First Flight Airport (FFA), though probable cause has yet to be given.

The five people on board the airplane when it crashed were Shashwat Ajit Adhikari, 31, of Silver Spring, Maryland; Jason Ray Campbell, 43, of Southern Pines; Kate McAllister Neely, 39, of Southern Pines; Matthew Arthur Fassnacht, 44, of Marietta, Georgia; and a 6-year-old child. There were no survivors.

The plane, a Cirrus Design Corp SR22, N1281F, departed from Moore County Airport in Carthage, North Carolina on a multi-leg flight, stopping at Ocracoke Island Airport and Dare County Regional Airport.

After leaving Dare County Regional Airport in Manteo, the plane was airborne for eight minutes. The pilot approached runway 21 at FFA but did not land.

Stated the report, “The pilot approached runway 21 a second time, and according to witnesses, was high and fast during the approach. As the airplane passed the midway point of the runway, it made a steep left turn and impacted the top of 50-foot-tall trees. The airplane subsequently impacted additional trees before coming to rest 300 ft east of the runway in heavily wooded terrain, where a significant postimpact fire ensued.”

No distress calls were recorded from the pilot on audio communications. Wind was reported at FFA at 6 knots, gusting to 14 knots. Visibility was 10 miles.

The report states that at 5:18 p.m., the plane’s left wing impacted 50-foot trees on the left side of the runway and contacted the ground approximately 135 feet from the initial contact point.

“The airplane was mostly consumed by a postimpact fire,” stated the report. All of the major components of the airplane have been accounted for at the accident site.

The cockpit was consumed by the fire but investigators verified that the airplane was equipped with Garmin G1000 navigational displays.

Forty-four gallons of fuel were purchased prior to departing Dare County Regional Airport. Though the fuel selector position could not be determined because of the fire, investigators said there was evidence of fuel on the leaves of trees between the initial impact point and the main wreckage.

The plane was equipped with a parachute system that remained within the deployment bag in a “packed state.”

Upon investigation of the engine and accessories, the report did not note any defects with engine parts. The magnetos could not be tested due to thermal damage.

Propeller marks were observed on trees near the site of the crash, and a large 12” section of a tree trunk was severed.

The report stated that the wreckage is being kept for further examination. The incident is being investigated as a Class 3. Class 3 investigations seek to identify the safety issues that reveal the underlying cause(s) of the accident.

According to the NTSB website, the organization’s primary focus is to improve safety for the traveling public. “We do not conduct investigations for the purpose of determining the rights, liabilities, or blame of any person or entity. The aim of all NTSB investigations is to prevent the recurrence of other accidents and incidents.”

The cause of the accident has not been released by the NTSB. A final report is expected next year.

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