NTSB: Damage Hampers Wellstone Crash Investigation

NTSB: Damage Hampers Wellstone Crash Investigation

Monday October 28, 2002 9:31pm

Eveleth, Minn. (AP) - The chief federal investigator into the plane crash that killed Sen. Paul Wellstone said Monday that extensive damage to the aircraft has blocked any quick answer into whether de-icing equipment was operating properly.

The National Transportation Safety Board is trying to determine why the twin-engine aircraft crashed and burned Friday morning about 2 miles from the Eveleth-Virginia Municipal Airport. One question is whether ice built up on the plane, which would have affected flight.

The NTSB's Frank Hilldrup said Monday the agency learned that one pilot who departed from the airport about 50 minutes after the crash reported slight icing after his plane entered cloud cover at about 1,000 feet.

At the airport, local pilots expressed doubt.

"There was little ice. It was normal. We see it all the time," said Don Sipola, a flight instructor with 25 years experience.

NTSB officials have said the investigation could take months; Hilldrup said investigators plan to stay in Eveleth another couple of days or so.

The crash killed Wellstone and his wife, Sheila, both 58; their daughter, Marcia Markuson, 33; and three campaign staffers and two pilots. The Wellstones were on their way to a funeral.

Hilldrup said the plane's landing gear appeared to have been down and its flaps lowered properly. He said investigators were doing routine checks on how the pilots spent their time before the flight, but weren't aware of anything of concern.

Wreckage from the boggy crash site - including the Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines and propellers - is being gathered and crated up for shipment to the manufacturers or Washington, D.C.

NTSB officials removed the larger pieces from the site during the weekend. Most of what was left at the site Monday was in small pieces, and investigators were sifting carefully to make sure they missed nothing. Steady snow slowed the work.

Among unanswered questions are why the Beech King Air A100 made a slow turn to the south, away from the airport, and why it descended at a steeper-than-normal angle, before crashing into the woods. Witnesses have said the plane seemed to be flying low and sounded like it might be in trouble. Investigators have said the plane's last known airspeed was 85 knots, close to stall speed.