A new federal report has confirmed that the medical transport plane, Guardian Flight that went down near Stagecoach Nevada, killing all 5 on board, did break apart mid-air.
Preliminary findings indicate that parts of the right-wing fell far from the main wreckage, as far as three-quarters of a mile. The plane had taken off in Reno, flown by Scott Walton, headed for Salt Lake City, transporting a patient and his wife. Shortly after take-off, the plane went down around 9:15 on February 24 in the middle of a winter storm. Air traffic control reports show that Walton contacted the tower minutes before the crash, reporting the plane was climbing past 15,400 feet, and then went silent. Minutes later, the plane began to fall, dropping around 8000 feet in 30 seconds.
An attorney for the patient’s family told the associated press that they hope the MTSB will investigate Guardian flight’s decision to fly instead of waiting out the storm, adding the patient’s condition was not life-threatening at the time. Weather reports indicate that there was steady snowfall that evening coupled with wind gusts up to 30mph and visibility under 2 miles.
Guardian Flight has said they are reviewing the report and assessing ways to strengthen its safety protocols.
The victims of the crash included the pilot, the patient and his wife, and two medical crew members. Care Flight has established a fundraising account to assist the victim’s families financially.
