NTSB investigates fatal plane crash in McKinney

MCKINNEY, Texas – The National Transportation Safety Board searched the plane wreckage in McKinney on Friday to find answers to the cause of the crash.

The Cessna, carrying three people, crashed into a mineral deposit late Thursday morning one mile south of McKinney National Airport, just seconds before takeoff. According to the NTSB and witness statements, the plane crashed in an inverted position.

Just before noon, DPS identified the two men who died in the crash. DPS identified the pilot as Michael Lewis of Forney and passenger Gustavo Moreno of Royse City. Both families are requesting privacy at this time. A third person is still recovering at Parkland Hospital.

Many tell WFAA that Lewis was heavily involved in community service and missionary work in Forney and the surrounding area. His wife, Amanda Lewis, is a former mayor of Forney.

Meanwhile, the NTSB is trying to narrow down the cause. The federal agency has sent an agent from its central region to the McKinney site.

“It’s important in investigations like this to keep asking why until you find the root cause. A common mistake is to narrow it down to pilot error,” said Jon Kettles, a lawyer who has represented plane crash victims for 30 years. “We need to conduct an independent investigation in parallel with the NTSB because we won’t even get access to the wreckage until they finish and release their final report.”

Kittles is not involved in this case, but says victims’ families and their representatives are often left in the dark until the NTSB completes its investigation. However, Kittles says there is a lot that can be learned just by looking at the wreckage and the flight path. He says the plane appears to be mostly intact. The location of the crash site, its proximity to the airport and the fact that the landing gear was still down are other factors worth noting.

“The riskiest part of flying is takeoff, when the engine is used at full power for the first time,” Kittles said.

This NTSB investigation will focus on the pilot, the aircraft, and the operating environment. The aircraft will be moved to a secure area for further investigation. The NTSB will issue a preliminary report within 30 days, but a final report on this accident will take 12 to 24 months.