NTSB Describes ‘High-Energy Impact’ in Roy Halladay Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday said Roy Halladay’s Icon A5 was recovered in shallow waters in the Gulf of Mexico near New Port Richey, Florida, after a “high-energy impact” killed the 40-year-old former Major League pitcher.

NTSB investigators want to review video shot moments before the crash and talk with eyewitnesses who have described a pilot who may have been “showboating” or “hot dogging” in his A5 leading up to the crash.

One of those witnesses, Fred Grunden, told Flying he watched as Halladay performed a series of aggressive maneuvers at low altitude before crashing into the water under control at high speed. "It looked like an airshow" he was putting on, Grunden said.

Investigators have recovered the flight data recorder units from the plane and will begin the process of analyzing the data after downloading it at the NTSB headquarters in Washington, D.C. A preliminary report is expected in 7-10 days.

A boater who supplied video to TMZ showing Halladay’s A5 banking sharply and descending low over the water said the airplane reached heights as low as 5 feet before the crash.