NTSB disputes Ebersol jet crash report
Friday, December 10, 2004 Posted: 7:58 PM EST (0058 GMT)
Investigators examine part of the aircraft wreckage near Montrose, Colorado.
DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- Federal authorities on Friday disputed a newspaper report that included details from the cockpit voice recorder on the private jet that crashed at a Colorado airport, killing the 14-year-old son of NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol and two other people.
According to the Rocky Mountain News, National Transportation Safety Board investigator Arnold Scott said the recorder captured a conversation between the captain and co-pilot shortly before takeoff and suggested both had checked the wings for ice.
"Do you see anything on the wings?" Scott quoted the captain as saying.
"The answer was `No,' apparently from the co-pilot," said Scott, who did not return calls Friday from The Associated Press.
The November 28 crash at the Montrose airport as light snow fell killed Ebersol's son Teddy, pilot Luis Alberto Polanco and flight attendant Warren Richardson III. Ebersol and his 21-year-old son, Charlie, were hospitalized and co-pilot Eric Wicksell was critically injured.
NTSB spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz said Scott denied giving details about the cockpit voice recorder to the newspaper.
"We've revealed nothing from the CVR, except that it's 31 minutes long and that engine sounds can be heard until impact," said Lopatkiewicz, who added that he did not know what was on the voice recorder.
The newspaper said the story was correct.
"We're standing by the accuracy of our story," said Deborah Goeken, managing editor of the News. "The information was provided to us on the record by Arnold Scott, the NTSB's chief investigator on this crash. The story includes direct quotes from Mr. Scott."
The NTSB has said it is investigating whether ice on the wings of the twin-engine CL-601 Challenger contributed to the crash but has not ruled out other factors. Investigators have said the pilots did not deice the wings despite a temperature of 31 degrees and the snow flurries at the time of takeoff.
In the story, Scott said he was told snow was melting as it hit the ground. The airport's two runways had been plowed just before the jet attempted to take off, he said.
During an interview with Federal Aviation Administration investigators, Charlie Ebersol said he saw clear liquid falling off the plane, Scott said. The investigator added that the liquid was melted snow or precipitation.
Friday, December 10, 2004 Posted: 7:58 PM EST (0058 GMT)
Investigators examine part of the aircraft wreckage near Montrose, Colorado.
DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- Federal authorities on Friday disputed a newspaper report that included details from the cockpit voice recorder on the private jet that crashed at a Colorado airport, killing the 14-year-old son of NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol and two other people.
According to the Rocky Mountain News, National Transportation Safety Board investigator Arnold Scott said the recorder captured a conversation between the captain and co-pilot shortly before takeoff and suggested both had checked the wings for ice.
"Do you see anything on the wings?" Scott quoted the captain as saying.
"The answer was `No,' apparently from the co-pilot," said Scott, who did not return calls Friday from The Associated Press.
The November 28 crash at the Montrose airport as light snow fell killed Ebersol's son Teddy, pilot Luis Alberto Polanco and flight attendant Warren Richardson III. Ebersol and his 21-year-old son, Charlie, were hospitalized and co-pilot Eric Wicksell was critically injured.
NTSB spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz said Scott denied giving details about the cockpit voice recorder to the newspaper.
"We've revealed nothing from the CVR, except that it's 31 minutes long and that engine sounds can be heard until impact," said Lopatkiewicz, who added that he did not know what was on the voice recorder.
The newspaper said the story was correct.
"We're standing by the accuracy of our story," said Deborah Goeken, managing editor of the News. "The information was provided to us on the record by Arnold Scott, the NTSB's chief investigator on this crash. The story includes direct quotes from Mr. Scott."
The NTSB has said it is investigating whether ice on the wings of the twin-engine CL-601 Challenger contributed to the crash but has not ruled out other factors. Investigators have said the pilots did not deice the wings despite a temperature of 31 degrees and the snow flurries at the time of takeoff.
In the story, Scott said he was told snow was melting as it hit the ground. The airport's two runways had been plowed just before the jet attempted to take off, he said.
During an interview with Federal Aviation Administration investigators, Charlie Ebersol said he saw clear liquid falling off the plane, Scott said. The investigator added that the liquid was melted snow or precipitation.
