NTSB says plane hit power lines before crashing in Gilroy, killing 2 on-board

The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on a plane crash that killed two on November 8th in Gilroy.

The preliminary investigation shows the CESSNA 140A collided with power lines and rugged terrain.

Investigators said visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed the day 69-year-old Jon Dennis and his 18-year-old granddaughter Kiely Vaca left Frazier Lake Airpark in Hollister. The two were headed for the Monterey Bay Academy Airport in Watsonville.

A family member of the pilot reported the airplane overdue to the FAA the evening of November 8th, after becoming concerned when the pilot and passenger had not arrived at their intended destination.

The FAA issued an alert notification for the missing airplane. The wreckage was found by search and rescue teams the next day within a heavily wooded area about 5 miles north of the Fraizer Airpark.

Examination of the accident site by the investigator-in-charge revealed that the airplane collided with steep terrain and remained intact except for the propeller which was located near the main wreckage.

Both wings had leading edge damage, the engine and forward fuselage was severely crushed.

All primary flight controls remained attached to the airplane.

The separated propeller assembly revealed that one of its blades had multiple s-type bending and a small portion of that blade’s tip was missing.

The other blade was slightly bent rearward.

Power lines were found a few hundred feet from the main wreckage site. Residents near the accident site reported a power outage around the time of the accident.

The airplane wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.