Investigation of Wellstone crash focuses on ice

Updated: 12-15-2002 05:16:13 PM

(St. Paul-AP) -- The investigation into the plane crash that killed Senator Paul Wellstone is probably zeroing in on possible icing on the aircraft.

The Pioneer Press reports that the investigation is turning away from an initial focus on the troubled past of chief pilot Richard Conry. It's been found that Conry moonlighted at a second job and had a felony fraud conviction.

Experts in crash investigations tell the newspaper that near-freezing conditions in northern Minnesota could have caused the plane to drift off course.

Investigators are also learning that Conry may have been tired.

The N-T-S-B says he flew from St. Paul to North Dakota and back between three a-m and 9:30 a-m the day before the October 25th crash near Eveleth. Then he worked a four-hour nursing shift that ended around 9:30 the night before the crash.
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