NTSB: No Flight Control Issues Before Bangor Plane Crash Explosions

Overview of the Plane Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on Friday regarding a plane crash that occurred at Bangor International Airport in January. The incident resulted in the deaths of all six individuals on board, including four passengers, a pilot, and a copilot. This tragic event is now considered one of the deadliest plane crashes in Maine’s history.

According to the report, there is no evidence of a flight control malfunction or failure. Both engines continued to generate takeoff power until the flight data recorder (FDR) stopped recording. The aircraft involved was a Bombardier CL-600-2B16, commonly known as the Challenger 650. It took off from William P. Hobby Airport in Houston at 2:20 p.m. CST on January 25, heading to Bangor for refueling on its way to Châlons Vatry Airport in Châlons-en-Champagne, France.

After refueling in Bangor, the plane had a total fuel load of approximately 19,872 pounds. The report notes that the plane was deiced at around 7:20 p.m., during a period of snowfall across the state, with surface visibility at 3/4 of a mile. Following the completion of deicing, the plane remained stationary for four minutes and 51 seconds before taxiing away from the deice pad.

Flight Operations and Takeoff

A preliminary review of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) revealed that the flight crew discussed holdover times during the taxi to runway 33. The pilot mentioned that it was “standard” to have 14 to 18 minutes, and if the wait exceeded 30 minutes, they would return to the ramp to deice again.

The plane reached runway 33 at 7:40 p.m., and at 7:42 p.m., the copilot informed the tower that they were ready for takeoff. Three seconds later, the flight was cleared to take off. The FDR recorded engine power increasing for takeoff at 7:43:57 p.m., and the plane lifted off the ground within 30 seconds.

Moments later, the plane crashed after only getting a few feet off the ground, with cameras capturing multiple explosions after the impact. The report states that the plane veered off the right side of the runway into the grass safety area. The debris field measured about 1,270 feet long and 150 feet wide, with the plane coming to rest upside down.

Aircraft Condition and Investigation

The report indicates that the wings remained attached to the fuselage, and all landing gear was still extended. There was no evidence of preimpact separation of any airplane component, flight control, or structure. Additionally, the cockpit, cabin, and tail assembly showed damage consistent with a prolonged post-impact fire.

As part of the ongoing investigation, the NTSB is examining various factors, including aircraft operations, performance, flight recorders, airport operations, survival factors, and human performance.

Who Was on the Plane

The jet was registered to a corporation that shares the same address as a Houston-based personal injury law firm, Arnold & Itkin. One of the firm’s founding partners is listed as the registered agent for the company that owns the plane. Arnold & Itkin was established in 2004 by personal injury trial lawyers Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin.

Identities of the Victims

All six victims have been identified by the Bangor Police Department. They are Tara Arnold, Shawna Collins, Jacob Hosmer, Shelby Kuyawa, Nick Mastrascusa, and Jorden Reidel. Tara Arnold, 46, worked as an attorney for Arnold & Itkin, which was co-founded by her husband, Kurt. She was also a co-founder of Beyond Luxury, a luxury travel company that employed several of the other victims.

Shawna Collins, 53, was listed on the Beyond Luxury website as the company’s luxury event designer and experience curator. She was a passenger on the jet and was excited about an upcoming business trip to Europe. Lakewood Church confirmed that she was a staff member and described her as a bright and uplifting presence.

Shelby Kuyawa, 34, was a Level 3 advanced sommelier with extensive experience in luxury hotels and resorts. Nick Mastrascusa, 43, was the executive vice president of hospitality for Beyond Luxury and had a distinguished career in the culinary and hospitality industry. Jacob Hosmer, 47, was one of the pilots who died in the crash, according to his cousin. Jorden Reidel, 33, was likely the second member of the flight crew.

Jet’s History and Weather Conditions

Flight records reviewed by 8 Investigates reveal that the jet involved in the crash carries a federal warning related to cold-weather operations. The FAA issued a directive in 2008 requiring a specific warning in the flight manual for the Bombardier Challenger 600, citing concerns about winter weather and takeoff safety. The directive followed three incidents in Canada.

During a media briefing on January 26, Bangor International Airport Director Jose Saavedra acknowledged that the weather was a factor in many airport operations on January 25. He noted that there were significant cancellations and delays before the crash. Saavedra explained that different criteria can be used to determine if conditions are poor enough to close the runway, stating, “It’s on a case by case situation.”

Airport officials reported that the last arrival into Bangor International before the crash was a scheduled domestic flight at 7:38 p.m. Sunday, while the last departure was a private aircraft at 5:33 p.m. Sunday.