Crash Report: Pilot Radioed ‘Abort’ After Takeoff

Federal investigators say the pilot in a plane that crashed in Brooklyn Park on April 25 radioed “abort” to air traffic control shortly after takeoff.

The crash killed Dr. Joseph Cass, a retired Mayo Clinic surgeon, as well as North Dakota State Rep. Liz Conmy.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its preliminary report on the crash on May 7.

According to the report, the pair flew from Park Rapids Municipal Airport-Konshok Field to the Crystal Airport on April 24. 

They were flying back to Park Rapids at the time of the crash.

“The pilot correctly read back the instructions, and the airplane departed runway 32,” the report reads. “A recording of [air traffic control] communications revealed that, shortly after the airplane departed runway 32, the pilot said, ‘abort, abort, 32X.’ Air traffic control told the pilot that he was cleared to land on any runway. Airport video surveillance captured the airplane turn left before it descended behind trees. Shortly after, a large plume of black smoke appeared from behind the tree line. The airplane impacted a park within a residential community about 900 ft northwest of the departure end of runway 32. A postimpact fire ensued.”

A witness told investigators that the plane’s landing gear was still down when the plane was about 150 feet in the air.

“Then he saw the airplane make a left turn,” the report reads. “He thought that the airplane was returning to the airport, but then he saw the airplane lose altitude. He lost sight of the airplane but could still hear the airplane’s engine. Then he heard an explosion.”

The full report is available on the NTSB’s website.

Related: North Dakota Lawmaker, Pilot Killed in Brooklyn Park Plane Crash

Brooklyn Park