RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU-WXPR) — A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board has been released in connection with the crash of a small airplane at the Rhinelander-Oneida County airport.
WXPR Radio in Rhinelander reports that the initial findings show the small craft missed the runway at the facility by 225 feet, with its wheels digging into the snow which caused the plane to flip.
The pilot said he thought he was aligned to the runway using the ground lights. He was seriously injured in the crash.
“The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation,” said the report.
The Cessna was carrying packages through a contract with FedEx. No one other than the pilot was injured in the incident.
The report is not a complete analysis of what caused the crash. The final report may take up to a year to complete.