Loss Of Control Seen As Possible Cause Of Accident

Less than 24 hours after a Cessna Citation 550 carrying medical personnel and organs for a double lung transplant surgery crashed into Lake Michigan, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board identified a possible cause of the accident that claimed six lives.

NTSB investigator John Brannen told reporters Wednesday the Citation's pilot told controllers at Mitchell International Airport he had a "trim runaway" shortly after the plane departed for its short flight to Willow Run. The pilot reportedly declared an emergency, and asked to return to the airport.

Six minutes later, witnesses saw the bizjet impact the water. Radar returns showed the plane in a steep descent prior to the accident.

It is possible trim failure could have led to a loss of control and resulting crash, although investigators may never know for certain what may have caused that condition... as most of the plane's wreckage lies in deep water.

"There's a concern we won't get all the pieces we need to do a complete reconstruction of the events," Brannen said.

As ANN reported, two pilots and four members of the University of Michigan's transplant team were onboard the plane. The university identified the victims as Dr. David Ashburn, a fellow in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery; Richard Chenault and Richard Lapensee, transplant donation specialists with the university transplant program; Dr. Martinus (Martin) Spoor, a cardiac surgeon; and pilots Dennis Hoyes and Bill Serra, both employed by Marlin Air.

"The thoughts of the entire University community are with the families of those involved this evening," said Darrell A. Campbell, M.D., chief of staff of the UM Hospitals & Health Centers and a transplant surgeon, to The Associated Press. "We vigilantly await the results of the Coast Guard's search."

Search crews Tuesday recovered unidentified human remains.

The aircraft, N550BP (shown above), was reportedly leased by the university, and operated by Toy Air Inc. FAA records list Toy Air as the owner of the 1981 bizjet.

FMI: www.umich.edu, www.faa.gov