NTSB releases preliminary report on plane crash that killed 3 along Miss. Gulf Coast
JACKSON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -
We have new information about the crash of a small plane in the Mississippi Sound almost two weeks ago that killed three men.
The National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report does not point to what caused the plane to drop from the sky, but it does give details about the stormy weather that day.
According to the report, there was visibility of four miles, a light rain, mist and wind gusts up to 28 mph.
The wife of one of the victims told the NTSB her husband told her, "The pilot intended to fly along the coast to avoid the worst of the weather."
The report notes the pilot told air traffic controllers in Gulfport he was going to take some pictures in the local area before continuing on to Daytona Beach.
The pilot, Ron Gregory, had more than 4,400 hours of flight experience and received his FAA medical certificate in September of 2014.
The plane, termed an experimental aircraft, was certified air worthy in October of 2003. Gregory purchased it in August of 2006.
The report raised a question about the plane's registration. The tail number, the one on that first piece of debris found, was not an active registration number. In fact, searchers found another piece of debris with a different registration number.
The Department of Marine Resources and the Jackson County Sheriff's flotilla are still searching for Ron Gregory, Dexter Brewer, Gerald Miletello and the rest of the plane.
The NTSB's final report could take up to 18 months to complete.