Why did a small plane crash on the runway? Investigators are trying to find out
Federal authorities said Tuesday they are looking into weather conditions, mechanical problems and any other issues that might have brought down a single-engine Piper.
The pilot remained in serous condition after Monday’s crash-landing, which also injured a passenger. The plane hit the runway at Homestead Airport General Aviation Airport before bouncing off and landing near a canal.
Dan Boggs, the lead investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, said Tuesday that the pilot, who owns the plane, was flying from Miami Executive Airport to the Homestead airport with a friend, who sustained minor injuries.
Miami Dade police identified the pilot and owner as Edgar Santiago Gonzalez, 56, and the passenger as Lionel Naraidu, 48.
“They were just a couple of guys flying around,” Boggs said.
According to FAA records, the plane, built in 1966, was registered to Sandy and Santiago Gonzalez. Last year, Sandy Gonzalez and a friend flew the Piper in a cross-country aviation competition for women. The pair finished in 28th place out of 53 teams.
On Monday, the single-engine plane went down around 5 p.m. at 28700 SW 217th Ave. It bounced along Runway 36 before stopping near a canal, federal officials said.
Boggs said he did not believe any distress calls were made from the plane. He plans on working with representatives from Piper Aircraft and Lycoming Engines to investigate the cause of the crash.
“As a team, we will be working together on looking at all the systems,” he said.
The Miami-Dade Police Homicide Bureau is also working with the investigation.
The plane will stay at the airport for investigators to examine unless bad weather forces them to move it to a hangar in Fort Pierce.
This was the first recorded accident in the Piper PA/28, according to the Aviation Database.
This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 3:24 PM with the headline "Why did a small plane crash on the runway? Investigators are trying to find out."