WrightAvia
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Crash Investigation Underway in Spokane Valley
Investigators were on the scene of a cargo plane crash all day Sunday. The Twin Turbo-Prop Metroliner went down in the Spokane Valley at a little after eight Saturday morning killing the pilot.
It could take up to six months to determine a cause. On Sunday, National Transportation Safety Board Investigators along with the FAA surveyed the scene before snow or other weather could destroy it. They looked at the timberline to see where the downed aircraft struck trees and mechanical cables were reviewed to look for any problems. So far, investigators say there does not appear to be any mechanical problems - though a detailed inspection of the plane's wreckage could turn up some kind of mechanical failure.
The scorched shattered remains of the aircraft were removed from the hillside. An investigator says each key part will be stored locally for the months of work that still lie ahead. Maintenance records for the plane will be reviewed this week, and so will weather reports. Investigators say they want to get as much information as possible about Saturday's thick fog.
"I may want to have witnesses that were up in the area, they may not have seen the aircraft, but know what the weather was," said Steve McCreary.
Investigators say visibility at Felts Field was quite good Saturday morning, but that hillside where the plane crashed did have poor visibility conditions. A report with preliminary findings on the crash should be out later this week.