Federal investigators issue first report on Idaho plane crash that killed Bend firefighter, twin brother – KTVZ

Occurred simply after takeoff from airport close to Yellow Pine, Idaho

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Federal investigators’ preliminary report sheds some new gentle on an August 15 small airplane crash that killed a Bend firefighter and his twin brother simply after they took off from an airport close to Yellow Pine, Idaho. However fuller solutions as to what occurred — and why — might be months or perhaps a yr out, they mentioned.

Bend Hearth & Rescue Engineer Daniel Harro, 38, was pilot of the Aviat “Husky” airplane, accompanied by twin brother Mark. They have been accompanied by Daniel’s canine, Cinder, which survived the crash, which occurred as they have been getting back from a backcountry tenting journey.

The airplane crashed round 6:30 a.m. native time simply after taking off from Johnson Creek Airport close to Yellow Pine, Idaho, in line with the Nationwide Transportation Security Board preliminary report issued this week; officers mentioned a closing report might be a yr or extra out.

A witness tenting on the airport advised investigators he noticed the airplane taxiing to Runway 35, then returned to his tent because of the cool early-morning climate.

“He recalled listening to the airplane’s engine RPM rise, just like the pilot was conducting a runup,” the report mentioned. “The witness said that he then heard the airplane take off, which was adopted shortly after by a sound much like ‘a door slamming shut.’”

About 4 hours later, the witness flew out of the airport, then as he returned noticed the airplane within the creek close to the top of the runway.

The airplane crashed about 265 toes northeast of the top of the runway and “got here to relaxation upright in a creek,” the report mentioned. No floor scars or broken vegetation have been seen within the space of the wreckage, which was moved to a safe location for additional examination.

There was no fireplace or explosion, they mentioned,  and “no seen floor scars or broken vegetation” within the space of the crash.