It was likely a loss of engine power caused by an undetected valve blockage that brought down a small plane in Gainesville, killing two people on board on Oct. 16, 2014.
A report, published on the National Transportation Safety Board's website, inidcates that the manifold valve was blocked by an unknown material before the plane took off from Lee Gilmer Airport.
That likely caused a "surging" noise reported by a witness, which was followed by the plane pitching and eventually crashing.
This blockage would not have been detected during a routine preflight inspection of the plane, the report said.
Investigators also found the fuel vent lines blocked with insect nesting material in both wings, though the report indicates that, since the flight was so short, this would not have had any effect on the engines.
However, the report indicates this would have been detected during a routine preflight inspection.
"Examination of the flight controls and heat-damaged engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failures or malfunctions," the report reads.
Kelly Chandler, 50, a flight instructor, and Lawrence Youhanian, 70, died as a result of the crash.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/5/403586/ntsb-releases-likely-cause-of-fatal-gainesville-plane-crash-in-2014