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NTSB Investigation Continues Into Sunday Plane Crash

Marc Valero/Highlands Today

Beverly Glarner, with Sebring Regional Airport, shows the area where the Remos GX light sport aircraft went down Sunday morning. The accident happened at 7:45 a.m., before the tower became active at 8 a.m., she said.

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: January 28, 2009

SEBRING - Facts regarding the Sunday fatal crash of a Remos GX light sport aircraft at Sebring Regional Airport have started to emerge.

Todd Gunther, air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said there was no "pre-impact structural failure" of the plane and the engine was running.

"The airplane, everything structurally was connected on it," he said. "The engine was running. We have factual indications that there was no failure of the engine.

"We're looking at continuity of the control systems right now to determine whether or not they were actually functioning properly."

Gunther was proceeding with the investigation Tuesday and would continue into today. A preliminary report was expected within seven to 10 days, with a factual report to be produced in nine months.

"We're looking at everything," Gunther said. "We look at the weather conditions at the time. Is it a possibility that the weather conditions could have affected the accident flight itself? We look at the physiology of the pilot."

The crash happened around 7:45 a.m. Sunday and killed passenger Steven Fletcher, a British photographer. The pilot, Mike Kostelac, of Virginia, was being treated at a regional medical center.

There were two aircraft that took off early that morning on a photo mission, according to Gunther.

"One was in trail of the other, what we call a flight of two," he said. "The second aircraft had been following the first aircraft. The first aircraft ended up having the occurrence."

Witness statements indicate that, just after takeoff, the plane apparently rolled to the right, according to Gunther. The aircraft continued turning to the right until it completed an almost 270-degree turn before striking a ramp at about an 85-degree bank angle.

"Once it did that, the nose impacted the pavement and then the aircraft skidded across the pavement and ended up in the gulley next to the runway," Gunther said.

The plane was "substantially damaged," according to Gunther. The right wing was separated from the fuselage, which sustained damage itself.

Fletcher was apparently covering the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, held at the airport, for a UK publication. He maintained a Web site, www.av8images.com.

The Sunday morning photo shoot Fletcher was attempting was not part of the expo, said Robert Wood, expo chairman, on Monday.

Kostelac was listed in fair condition Tuesday by personnel at Tampa General Hospital.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at 863-386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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