DEWITT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Federal investigators blame pilot error and an overloaded aircraft for a 2019 plane crash near a Michigan airport that killed five Indiana men and seriously injured a sixth person aboard.
The National Transportation Safety Board's final report on the Oct. 3, 2019, crash says the pilot failed to maintain airspeed during his final approach to the Capital Region International Airport, near Lansing, Michigan.
Investigators also said the single-engine Socata TBM 700 was more than 200 pounds overweight and its load was too far back in the aircraft, contributing to it being difficult to control. The plane had taken off from a suburban Indianapolis airport.
Six men were aboard the single-engine plane, which crashed Oct. 3 outside Capital Region International Airport, near Lansing, Michigan. The Socata TBM 700 plane had departed from Indy South Greenwood Airport in Indianapolis and crashed while approaching the runway at Capital Region International Airport.
Neil Alan Sego, 46, of Trafalgar, John Thomas Lowe, 51, of Greenwood and Timothy Joe Clark, 67, of Franklin were all pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
The 48-year-old pilot Joel Beavins also died a few days after the crash. His obituary was posted online by Swartz Family Community Mortuary in Franklin.
-
School districts seeing an increase in violent threats across Indiana
Schools across Indiana are seeing an increase in violent threats made on social media. Monday morning, Center Grove Community Schools had an extra police presence after threats made Thursday.IMPD warning street takeovers are unacceptable, spinners say they won't stop
Those behind these illegal street takeovers say they're not going to stop. Indianapolis metro police say they're coming after the organizers who put on these events and the drivers taking part.From utilitarian to flashy: Howl + Hide has locally made leather items for all
Howl + Hide is located in Indianapolis' Fountain Square neighborhood. The shop sells locally made leather goods for every occasion.Indy woman still navigating the immigration system six years after her marriage
Jenny Bojang met her husband Harun while she was serving the Peace Corp. in Africa, Six years later, he still can’t live with her in Indianapolis.