The plane crash that killed nine of 12 members of an Idaho family was caused by a build up of snow and ice on the wings and other parts of the plane.
A number of documents made public by the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the pilot did not completely remove snow and ice before taking off during a storm, that more people were on board than available seats, and that the plane was more than 100 pounds over its maximum weight limit.
A final analysis of the crash will be released at a later date, a safety board spokesman said on Monday.
The Pilatus PC-12 single-engine turboprop was traveling from Chamberlain, S.D., to the Idaho Falls Regional Airport when it crashed before noon local time on November 30, 2019.
Nine people, including two children, died. James, Kirk, Kyle, and Tyson Dennert were the sons-in-law of Jim and Kirk Hansen.
Three people survived the crash, but they were seriously injured.
According to a witness statement from Carey Story, the owner of the lodge where the family was staying, the pilot thought there would be favorable weather for flying that day between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The pilot is not identified by the safety board.
The National Weather Service reported on the morning of the crash that it was about as messy and complex as a forecast could be, with snow, ice and freezing rain possible.
The pilot and passenger worked for three hours to remove snow and ice that built up on the plane. The pilot and passenger used a ladder to get to the top of the plane, but it was not high enough. The pilot told them to return home.
Mr. Story said he saw the pilot complete a flight control check before he took off. He said the pilot told him the plane was 98 percent good and the remaining ice would come off during takeoff.
Dusten Hrabe, the airport manager, said in his witness statement that the pilot commented that the plane was coming off well. Mr. Hrabe said in his witness statement that the weather seemed to be getting worse.
Scott Lewis told the N.T.S.B that he was sweeping snow off his daughter's car before the plane took off.
He said in an email to the safety board that it was snowing so hard that he couldn't see the plane.
The documents show that there were more people on the plane than available seats. According to the documents, there were two people in the aisle.
The crash was the deadliest in the state since 1968, according to the new documents and video.
The board said in a preliminary report that the cockpit stall warning and the stick shaker were activated about one second after liftoff. The stick pusher was activated after about 15 seconds after liftoff.
The board said that the plane was in the air for more than 500 feet before it crashed. The plane never established radar contact and the pilot did not receive radio communications, according to the agency.
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