Hamburg, In. — A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board says mechanical problems caused the Cesena to crash, killing three people near Hamburg on December 16 last year.
The report says crash investigators discovered a mechanical problem with the number 4 cylinder and piston. Those parts have been sent to a government materials laboratory for further testing.
The report says Louis Cantilena, the pilot, Paul Schuda, Cantilena’s daughter Amy and two dogs had refueled in Columbus, Indiana and were instructed to head east at an altitude of 11,000 feet. Data indicates the aircraft was only able reach 7,450 feet before it began a gradual descent. Soon after a “mayday” call was made.
The plane was within landing distance to the Batesville Airport at the time of the distress call. The airport was about 10 days into a scheduled shut down between December 6, 2017 and March 5, 2018. The aircraft went down about 1.5 miles from the unlit runway. The crash killed all three occupants and one of the dogs.
The group was on a one-day, round trip from Maryland to Kansas City, Missouri to bring Amy home from school. Louis Cantilena and Paul Schuda were reportedly officers in the Civil Air Patrol.
