NTSB report released on March LaFayette plane crash

LAFAYETTE, Ga. (WDEF) —  The NTSB report has been released on the LaFayette plane crash that occurred in March at the Barwick LaFayette Airport.

The Cirrus SR-22 was destroyed when it impacted the ground during an instructional flight.

The flight had departed from Richard B. Russell Regional Airport (RMG) in Rome, Georgia, earlier that afternoon before picking up the instructor at LaFayette.

According to the report, ADS-B flight data shows after two normal circuits of the traffic pattern, the aircraft appeared to approach the runway in a nose-high attitude on the third pass.

Witnesses noted the plane flying lower than normal before it struck the ground 170 feet before the runway threshold.

The aircraft overturned and caught fire after the impact, coming to rest about 175 feet from the initial point of contact and 25 feet off the runway.

Major components, including both wings and the fuselage, were found at the crash site, with debris scattered along the runway.

Investigators confirmed control continuity for the rudder, elevator, and ailerons.

The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) remained unused and was found still packed in the wreckage.

The engine showed signs of thermal and impact damage, but internal inspections confirmed the crankshaft and valve train were functioning prior to the crash.

Fuel was found in multiple parts of the engine, and the aircraft had been fully fueled before departure from RMG.

The wreckage has been retained for further investigation as authorities continue to examine the cause of the crash.