NTSB report on northern Minn. plane crash released
A picture from the crash scene. Photo provided by WDIO-TV in Duluth, MN.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report about a plane crash in northern Minnesota that killed three people.
The plane crashed into a home on Oct. 1 in Hermantown.
Siblings Matthew and Alyssa Schmidt and pilot Tyler Fretland died as a result of the crash.
RELATED: Victims identified in Hermantown plane crash that killed 3
The report shows the plane reached 2,800 feet before descending rapidly.
When air traffic control asked the pilot if he knew he was descending, the pilot responded that he would “contact departure.”
However, the report says an air traffic controller attempted to contact the pilot and received no response.
It was later discovered the pilot was issued a departure frequency and beacon code, but the frequency was read back incorrectly by the pilot and was not corrected by the air traffic controller.
It’s not known if that issue had anything to do with the crash.
The NTSB reports it has not found any mechanical issues with the engine but that the investigation is ongoing.