A pilot of a small, Texas-bound plane reported engine failure soon after takeoff from the Cheyenne Regional Airport, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The pilot was the only person killed in the crash on May 30, but no information about him has been released.
The NTSB does not release the names of those involved in crashes, a spokesman told Cowboy State Daily last week.
According to the preliminary report, an Express2000RG airplane crashed around 7:50 a.m. on May 30.
Investigators found that the plane departed from the Cheyenne Regional Airport and was airborne for about four minutes before it crashed.
Shortly after takeoff about four miles south of the airport, the pilot declared an emergency with the air traffic control tower personnel and informed them he had an “engine failure.”
He later reported that he would not be able to land at the airport and intended to land in a field. The pilot said his plane was “on fire” and asked air traffic control to send fire rescue.
A video from security cameras at a Cheyenne business showed the airplane spinning into the ground.
The NTSB report said the initial impact point left a divot in the concrete before the plane collided with a storage facility.
The wreckage path continued about 15 feet into a storage locker. A post-crash fire ensued, which consumed a majority of the aircraft.
After on-scene documentation, the plane was removed to a secure facility for further examination.
Business owner Steve Sears told Cowboy State Daily last week that he didn’t see the aircraft hit the ground but thought to check his security cameras shortly thereafter. He said the footage captured the entire incident.
Screenshots provided by Sears to Cowboy State Daily show the plane shortly before impact.
“I was at home when it happened and thought to check [the security cameras] out of curiosity,” Sears told Cowboy State Daily.
“I thought I would check thinking that I would see smoke but much to my surprise, I saw the plane spinning almost straight down and impact,” he said.
Sears said he gave the video footage to the Cheyenne Police Department and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Sears did not immediately respond to Cowboy State Daily’s request for comment on Monday.
