NTSB Blames CFI for Deadly Crash

Agency determines the instructor was aware of thunderstorms before takeoff with student pilot in 2023 Kentucky flight.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, September 05, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

NTSB’s final report on the 2023 fatal crash in Kentucky says the CFI was aware of thunderstorms in the area before the deadly flight. [Credit: NTSB]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB determined the 2023 Kentucky plane crash, which killed a flight instructor and student pilot, was caused by an in-flight breakup after the aircraft entered severe thunderstorms during a night flight.
The probable cause was identified as the flight instructor's improper decision to continue the flight into known severe convective weather, despite receiving a pre-flight briefing that included a convective SIGMET.
The flight instructor documented the flight on Snapchat, posting demeaning comments about the student pilot and showing awareness of approaching storms, yet continued on course, possibly misjudging the latency of weather radar information.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says the deadly crash of the Piper PA-28-161 in Kentucky in 2023 was caused by an in-flight breakup after the aircraft entered an area of severe thunderstorms during a night flight.

The event caught the attention of the aviation community because the flight instructor, Timothy McKellar Jr., 22, documented the events of the flight using Snapchat, which included a series of demeaning comments aimed at Connor Quisenberry, 18, the private pilot candidate.