Maine crash investigation reveals radar trouble
April 18, 2011, 09:36 pm
Though it may be a while before the National Transportation Safety Board is able to determine the definitive cause of the March 7 plane crash in Maine that resulted in one death, the preliminary report reveals some radar problems, according to the Canadian Press.
The recently released report says that the pilot suddenly went off radar shortly after asking calling into the air traffic control center for flight information. The source says he was in the middle of receiving coordinates in a mountainous area near Allagash when he disappeared from radar contact at around 1:45 p.m.
According to the Canadian Press, the reason he phoned in for vectors may have been because he was flying low in an effort to avoid the potential for icing at higher altitudes.
Though the pilot was later rescued after sustaining a broken arm, the passenger, Canadian real estate developer Paul Oberman, passed away as a result of the crash.
Although the final cause has not been determined, the potential that a technical failure may have somehow contributed to the accident may serve as a reminder of the unexpected hazards aviators may encounter. The sometimes high risk of aviation warrants significant precautions, including pilot life insurance to ensure the family of a pilot is financially sustained should they die unexpectedly in an accident.
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