YULEE, Fla. – A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board has identified multiple possible causes for a plane crash in a Yulee neighborhood that claimed the life of the 56-year-old pilot.
The crash happened the morning of May 10, when a Piper single-engine aircraft went down in a wooded area near Blackrock Road.
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The report from NTSB reveals that one of the plane’s doors was open during takeoff.
Photos included in the document show the nose baggage door stayed open until the plane became airborne and left the frame.
Aviation oil and a bag of dog food were found on the runway after the crash, suggesting cargo fell out during takeoff.
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Investigators said about 10 seconds after takeoff, the plane descended steeply before hitting a tree and crashing in the woods near a residential area.
According to the report, the pilot’s wife said he was flying from Nassau Airport to Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport, where they would wait for anticipated thunderstorms to pass.
“Preliminary review of weather radar data showed a line of intense precipitation echoes moving through the area at the time of the accident,” the report said.
The document mentioned that no major mechanical failures were immediately evident.
The information in the report is preliminary. A full investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash is still ongoing.
