Pilot error believed to cause 2010 crash
November 29, 2011, 01:47 pm
deral investigators recently reported that pilot error is likely to be the cause of a small plane crash in California that killed three Tesla Motors employees in 2010. The National Transportation Safety Board found pilot Doug Bourn ignored tower warnings of heavy fog, which may have led to the crash.
The Associated Press reported the twin-engine Cessna 310 hit a 60-foot electric tower and power lines in February 2010, in East Palo Alto, with engines running near full-power. The NTSB report found the plane had taken off in near-zero visibility, after the airport tower warned all pilots not to fly in the dense fog. The engines and the propellers were working prior to the crash, thus the NTSB was able to rule out a mechanical malfunction.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the NTSB report says the crash resulted from the the pilot's failure to follow standard procedures for takeoff, as well as a failure to attain a high enough altitude to clear the power lines during take off that is suggested in heavy fog and other unfavorable weather conditions.
The air traffic controller told the source that the runway was not visible from the tower due to the fog, and the controller told the pilot he was not clear for take off. The pilot took off despite warnings, and the plane crashed into the transmission tower a few moments after departing from the airport. The crash killed three Telsa employees and caused damage to the towers. Pilot insurance can help protect against such unexpected events.
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