News

Actions

NTSB: Fort Myers plane crash caused by loss of engine power

Posted at 2:25 PM, Jul 11, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-11 14:25:11-04

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Federal investigators say the pilot in last month's small plane crash that left one person dead had tried to land on the road after the engine failed, but instead came down on a building. 

The crash happened June 24th a short distance away from Page Field in Fort Myers.

According to an NTSB report, the pilot says that as he lifted off, the engine of the Piper PA28-181 began losing power.  The pilot switched fuel tanks but continued to lose power.

The pilot says he attempted to aim for a street across from the airport, but the wing hit a tree while attempting to line the plane up with the road.  The plane instead hit the side of a building just off Metro Parkway and caught fire.

Passenger Marc Scott was killed in the crash and pilot Anthony Greco was hurt when the plane crashed.

The NTSB says Greco had a total of 523 total hours of flight experience.