LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Winglets installed on Louisville City FC Founder Wayne Estopinal's plane are likely the reason the plane went down, according to the NTSB's final crash report.
The report says a malfunction with the left winglet caused an issue during the flight, and the pilot was unable to recover.
From the time the winglet failed, to impact, was only 35 seconds. Estopinal, Sandra Davis and pilot Andrew Davis died in the crash.
Tamarack Aerospace Group installed the winglet system on the plane in May 2018. Winglets are installed to help pilots fly farther using less gas.
According to an attorney, Estopinal's plane was one of the first planes outfitted with these specific winglets. Six months after the November 2018 crash, the FAA said all Cessna planes with the winglet system had to be modified before they could fly.
A representative from Tamarack Aerospace Group disputes the NTSB's findings, calling the report "erroneous."
A written statement on the company's website reads in part:
"Tamarack cites facts and evidence showing that Tamarack’s Active Winglets, installed on the CitationJet involved in the November 30, 2018, fatal accident, were fully operational and did not cause or contribute to the accident. We disagree with the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB’s) Final Report today that concludes Active Winglets installed on the aircraft N525EG were the probable cause of the accident, alleging there was, “asymmetric deployment of the leftwing load alleviation system for undetermined reasons.” The forensic evidence collected in the investigation indicates that the load alleviation system was indeed operational, and deployed symmetrically, upon impact. There are inconsistencies within the report that do not support the conclusion published by the NTSB."
CLICK HERE to read the statement in its entirety.
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