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NTSB Releases Preliminary Report in Fatal Airplane Crash

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The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report on an airplane crash that killed four members of a southern Illinois Family.

 The January 2, 2015 crash that killed 48-year-old Marty Gutzler of Nashville,  his wife Kim, their 9-year-old daughter, Piper and Sierra Wilder, a 14-year old relative happened  about 6-pm in a wooded area near Kentucky Dam. 

According to the report issued Thursday, the 1979 twin engine Piper PA-34 reported it was having trouble with its right engine about 5:50 pm. The pilot, Marty Gutzler, was given visual flight rules directions to the Kentucky Dam airport about 10-miles away.  Air traffic controllers report they lost radar contact with the plane about five minutes later.

The NTSB report says the plane came to rest inverted with the landing gear retracted.   There was a strong odor of fuel and all major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene.   Investigators say the fuselage was largely intact, but heavily damaged by impact.   The plane’s left engine was separated from the wing.  The right engine remained attached and is being examined as part of the ongoing crash investigation.

The report indicates weather conditions at the time of the accident included a light mist, a ceiling of 600 feet, visibility of 6-miles, and an air temperature of 37-degrees.

The Gutzler’s 7-year old daughter, Sailor, survived the crash.  The family was in route to Mt. Vernon’s Outland Airport from Tallahassee, Florida at the time of the crash.

Jeff Williams is the Associate Director for Radio and Station Manager for WSIU Radio. Jeff is a native of southern Illinois and has been in broadcasting for 30 years. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiuradio@wsiu.org
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