BOKARATON, Fla. (WFLA) — One of the pilots of a small plane that crashed in Boca Raton last month reported that they had a rudder issue and could only make a left turn, according to a new report released Wednesday.
Three families were killed in a fiery crash on April 11th near Boca Raton Airport. Brookstark, 17, father, Stephen Stark, 54, and grandfather, Robert Stark, 81. The plane nearly crashed into a driver when it crashed next to his car, but the man survived with only a small injury.
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A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Wednesday said Cessna 310 heading to Tallahassee International Airport would only be in the air for 11 minutes until it drops.
The plane had just taken off from Boca Raton Airport on its first flight since the annual inspection was completed.
Shortly after takeoff, the plane began to drift left, the report said. The plane made a 180-degree left turn, followed by a series of full circle loops.
“According to a preliminary air traffic control recording, one of the pilots reported that he had problems with the rudder of the plane and could only turn left,” the NTSB wrote in the report.
The plane crashed on its ninth turn, hitting several trees at the median road, and exploded into flames as it hit a set of railway tracks. The NTSB said the fuselage, including the cockpit, had been severely damaged by the fire, most of which was “consumed.”
The aircraft’s rudder was found near the crash site and the remains were retained for further inspection. It could take up to two years for the final report to be released.
