Indian pilot student's death: NTSB releases preliminary report

The National Transportation Safety Board has released preliminary report regarding a March 21st plane crash that claimed two lives. According to the report, posted on the NTSB’s website, a witness reported that the Beechcraft BE-76 appeared to be struggling and climbing at a slow rate of speed after takeoff from runway 19 at the Richard B. Russell Airport. The plane then made a nose first descent toward the trees, southeast of the airport. The report went on to state that 23-year old Lokesh Venkat of India, a flight student who was flying the plane, had 182 hours of flight experience, including 7 hours in a plane of the same make and model as the one that crashed. The flight instructor, 34-year old Kwang Yi of Duluth, had 827 hours of total flight experience, including 111 hours in the same make and model as the twin engine Beechcraft BE 76. The report does not mention a cause for the crash.
12/04/08 Joey Weaver/WEIS, USA