Wings of Doomed Seaplane Cracked
The seaplane that crashed off Miami Beach last month, killing all 20 people aboard, had fatigue cracks in both wings, a preliminary federal report said Monday.
The right wing of the Chalk’s Ocean Airways plane separated from the fuselage shortly before the Dec. 19 crash, and investigators had earlier found cracks on the right wing’s support beam. But the new report by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that the left wing had fatigue cracks as well.
The 58-year-old G-73 Turbine Mallard plummeted into the ocean minutes after taking off for the Bahamas.
The safety board’s final report will be completed later this year, spokesman Paul Schlamm said.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
