NTSB Preliminary Report on Kentucky Fatal Crash Released

The NTSB has released its preliminary findings on the fatal crash of a Piper PA-28-161 near Whitesville, Kentucky, in September involving a flight instructor and private pilot candidate on a night flight.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 03:42 PM ET

Verified

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) preliminary accident report, the aircraft flew through "heavy to extreme precipitation." [Courtesy: NTSB]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB's preliminary findings reveal a fatal Piper PA-28 crash in Kentucky, killing a flight instructor and student pilot during a night flight that encountered a severe thunderstorm.
The flight instructor, Timothy McKellar Jr., made multiple social media posts during the flight, including demeaning comments about the student and acknowledging severe approaching storms, yet continued the flight into hazardous weather.
After requesting an IFR clearance and being advised of heavy precipitation, the aircraft experienced "extreme turbulence," leading to a descending turn, loss of communication, and an in-flight breakup, with wreckage dispersed over 25 acres.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary findings on the fatal crash of a Piper PA-28-161 near Whitesville, Kentucky, in September involving a flight instructor and private pilot candidate on a night flight.

According to the report, the pair flew into a thunderstorm. The event has received national attention because the CFI, Timothy McKellar Jr., 22, made several social media posts during the flight that included demeaning comments about the learner, Connor Quisenberry, 18. McKellar also posted an image of approaching thunderstorms along the route of flight. McKellar acknowledged the storms and the flight continued.