Pilot declared emergency before plane crash, which …

The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report on Wednesday on a plane crash in northern Wyoming in late July in which all seven people on board were killed, including three members of a popular gospel group.

The report states that the pilot notified the Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center that he had lost autopilot function., as the aircraft made sharp right and left turns while climbing and falling through the air about 12 miles northeast of Recluse, Wyoming, on the afternoon of July 26th.

Three members of the Gospel Hall of Fame quartet TThe Nelons died in the crash, along with the pilot and three other people on board. The dead were identified as Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber and Nathan Kistler and their assistant Melodi Hodges, and the pilot Larry Haynie and his wife Melissa.

The Pilatus Aircraft LTD PC-12 aircraft left Nebraska City Municipal Airport around noon that day and flew northwest toward Billings Logan International Airport in Montana., According to the NTSB report, it climbed to a maximum cruising altitude of about 26,000 feet above sea level.

At about 1:02 p.m., the plane deviated from its course and climbed to about 27,550 feet before executing a 270-degree right turn. In the first 180 degrees of this turn, the plane descended about 2,300 feet. It then climbed again, climbing to 27,025 feet in the final 90 degrees of this turn, the report said.

Data from the Federal Aviation Administration showed the plane made a slight left turn and then began a 180-degree right turn, the report said. The final data point showed the plane flying south at an altitude of about 21,900 feet. And plane with a ground speed of 256 knots or 294.6 miles per hour.

Autopilot lost

During the final part of the flight, the pilot informed the air traffic controller in Salt Lake City that his autopilot had failed and there was an emergency.

The air traffic controller asked the pilot where he wanted to land, the report says.

The pilot said he tried to regain control of the plane and the air traffic controller told him to call if he needed further assistance.

The air traffic controller gave the pilot some instructions on how to maintain the correct altitude, but heard no further response from him. After that, radio and radar contact disappeared.

The FAA issued an alert for the aircraft.

Witnesses

A witness who was near the accident later reported a “loud howling noise” that grew weaker and stronger, followed by plumes of smoke rising from the area. Another witness observed the plane “rolling over,” heard the loud roar of the engine, and then heard it hit the ground.says the report. This witness also noticed the smoke that rose after the accident.

Local law enforcement officials found the wreckage in remote terrain about 12 miles northeast of Recluse, along with a post-impact fire of about 40 acres west of the main wreck.

The main wreckage of the aircraft Was embedded in the ground on a slope of about 20 degrees, leaving a 10-foot long, 41-foot wide and 6-foot deep soil disturbance. Burnt vegetation surrounded the The impact crater and small fragments of the aircraft were scattered within about 300 feet of the main wreckage, the report said.

Two pieces of the left wing and various fragments of the aircraft were found along a debris trail that extended approximately 1.3 kilometers from the main wreckage. All major components of the aircraft were located at the accident site and in the debris trail.

Investigators have taken the ruins to a secure facility for further examination, the report said.

In this area, clouds were clear at their lowest point and the temperature was about 25 degrees Celsius. Wind speed was 10 knots – or 18.5 km/h. Visibility was 16 km, the report said.

A Wyoming-based aviation expert was not immediately available for comment Thursday.

Claire McFarland can be reached at [email protected].