NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Mesa Plane Crash

A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed no mechanical failures in the Honda HA-420 jet crash at Falcon Field Airport, Mesa, Arizona, which killed five people on November 5. The aircraft, en route to Provo, Utah, for a college basketball game, never became airborne; it accelerated on the runway before decelerating and crashing through a fence, ultimately colliding with a vehicle on the road. The NTSB found no engine anomalies or issues with the brake and anti-skid systems, and all major parts of the jet were intact before the crash. Security footage and flight log data confirmed the plane's acceleration to 130 knots before it began to decelerate. The crash resulted in the deaths of four passengers, including a 12-year-old, and the driver of the vehicle. A final report by the NTSB could take up to two years to complete.