Skydive Plane Crash Calls into Question Repairs Made to Same Plane back in 2016

OAHU, HI – According to an online news report at apnews.com, federal investigators are examining repair and inspection records on the skydiving plane that crashed soon after taking off from an airport on Oahu’s North Shore.  The accident caused the death of all eleven passengers on board.*

The same exact plane had significant damage to its tail section in an accident that occurred in 2016 where it was transporting skydivers over Northern California. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), repairs were made to the plane to get it back into service.

 “We will be looking at the quality of those repairs and whether it was inspected and whether it was airworthy,” the NTSB noted.  The plane was equipped to transport thirteen individuals, per the NTSB.  “Weight and balance has a factor in the safety of these operations and that’s a calculation that needs to be made before a plane is operated,” she said.

Back in 2016, the twin engine aircraft stalled and spun a number of times before the pilot was able to land the airplane after the skydivers jumped out.  Upon examination of that incident, it was believed that the plane was too heavily weighted in the back, a factor of which was blamed on the pilot.  

The plane remains at the Dillingham Airfield, and may stay there for the next few days before being transported to a location where the aircraft can be examined by authorities.  

The NTSB will be issuing a report in the next few weeks.  The final report, which includes an examination of the cause of the crash, could take up to a couple of years.  

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Source:https://www.apnews.com/3cb5ff7507584353a906396d0d4cf0ee