5/30/14 - The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a final report on a 2011 fatal airplane crash in Howell Township. An experimental amateur-built two-seat plane crashed on June 29th of 2011 into a home on M-59 near Tooley Road, adjacent to the Livingston County Airport. Killed in the crash were 43-year-old Patrick Lee Charles of Canton and 70-year-old John Jerome Nowak of Westland. A probable cause report issued by the NTSB earlier this month indicates that the âpilot's failure to maintain airplane control and airspeed during final approach,â resulted in an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude. The report noted that while toxicological testing revealed the presence of several medications in both the pilot and flight instructor; it was not likely that they resulted in any impairment. A witness reported seeing the airplane in the traffic pattern for runway 31 at the airport. The witness said that after the plane turned onto the final approach it appeared to be higher than the typical glide-path for the runway and traveling at a slow airspeed when it suddenly entered a spin to the right and descended out of his view. The 29-year-old aircraft, which was registered to Charles, subsequently crashed into the front yard and house. The instructional flight, which was made so Charles could obtain a flight review, originated from Canton-Plymouth-Mettetal Airport near Plymouth. (JK)
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