A flight instructor and her student were practicing emergency procedures before declaring a real emergency when the plane crashed, killing the teacher and critically wounding the student, according to officials.
The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary assessment on Friday about the March 30 jet crash at Treasure Coast International Airport in Fort Pierce, Florida, and found that the pilot was practicing shutting down one of the plane’s engines.
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The student was about to land when the right engine of the Piper PA-44 aircraft idled, resulting in a missed approach. However, the report adds that when he squeezed the throttles, neither engine produced thrust.
The instructor took control, declared an emergency, and tried a landing. However, the jet stalled and crashed, according to the report. The scene pronounced Valentina Guillen, 22, an Argentinean instructor, dead. The student, who is 19 years old, suffered critical injuries.
Witness said the plane nosedived, passengers stuck inside
The scene was responded to by officials from the St. Lucie County Fire District and the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a report from the Sheriff’s office, an eyewitness to the incident stated that the aircraft was in the process of approaching the runway when it abruptly plummeted from the sky, resulting in a nosedive into the runway.
According to officials, two individuals were trapped inside the vehicle, requiring the assistance of firefighters and specialized equipment to extract them. Fortunately, one of the passengers survived and was promptly taken to a nearby hospital. It is anticipated that they will fully recuperate from the incident.
The student and instructor were undergoing training at Aviator College. Roxanne Palmer, the director of academic affairs, stated that they took part in the aircraft’s second flight of the day.
According to the report, the accident occurred the day after the plane underwent inspection.
Palmer chose not to provide any additional comments until the NTSB releases its final report.
