The National Transportation Safety Board has released its
preliminary report about a deadly plane crash in West Caldwell on Aug. 15.
The investigation seems to show that the Cessna 206, flown by pilot John Hannon, crashed due to engine failure.
Hannon, who was the sole occupant of the plane, had just taken off from Essex County Airport and was headed to Teterboro Airport when the plane crashed in a wooded area near Passaic Avenue.
According to the NTSB, Hannon told air traffic controllers that he had a "problem" and declared an emergency. He was advised to turn around and head back to Essex County Airport. Hannon then reported that he was not able to maintain power to the engine, and the plane crashed soon after.
Review of security camera video from the takeoff shows that the plane appeared slow to accelerate and did not rotate until approximately halfway down the runway.
Hannon was an experienced pilot with nearly 1,700 hours of flight experience. He was apparently picking up a friend for a flight lesson when the plane crashed.
A spokesperson for the NTSB says the agency is still investigating the crash, and a full report will be issued once it is complete.