  |
  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Copyright Australdata.com
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Report Shows Aaliyah's Plane Was Overloaded - 08.31.01 |
 |
| |
The tiny Cessna aircraft that crashed and killed Aaliyah and eight others on Saturday was overloaded, a report from investigators in the Bahamas shows.
In a statement issued Thursday, Randy Butler of the Bahamian Civil Aviation Department said the Cessna 402B was loaded with fuel and cargo to a weight of 5,495 pounds. Since the craft's maximum authorized takeoff weight is 6,300 pounds, that left only 805 pounds available for the passengers and pilot — just under 90 pounds per person.
"The plane was definitely overloaded," said John Frank of the Cessna Pilots Association, based in Santa Maria, California. Officials have yet to determine the exact weight of the people onboard the plane. They were able to weigh all baggage except one piece, which sank into a swamp, the statement said.
Overloading alone may not be enough to cause a crash, Frank said, adding that the behavior of the plane — witnesses said it veered sharply to the left soon after takeoff — suggests the load was not balanced evenly, which would have made the craft more difficult to handle. The report said the location of the bags on the aircraft before the crash has not been determined.
The report also said both of the plane's engines were in good working order and that the craft showed no evidence of "pre-crash damage." Butler said that information on the plane's maintenance records and pilot is still being gathered and that the craft's propellers will be examined in the U.S.
The pilot, Luis Morales III, pleaded no contest to charges of cocaine possession on August 13, according to Broward County court records (see "Pilot Of Aaliyah's Plane Had Been Caught With Cocaine, Was Not Authorized To Fly"). He had a clean flying record with no enforcement actions against him, Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Kathleen Bergen said.
Blackhawk International Airways, the plane's operator, was cited by the FAA four times between 1997 and 2000 for a total of nine violations that included failure to follow drug-testing rules and failure to perform proper maintenance, according to FAA documents. Three of the citations resulted in "letters of correction" from the agency, while one — a 1998 citation for failing to comply with a foreign country's regulations while flying in that country — drew a $1,500 fine, according to documents.
Butler also said that neither Blackhawk nor the plane's owner, Skystream Inc., was authorized to operate charter flights in the Bahamas. Calls to Blackhawk have not been returned, and Skystream's number is unlisted.
Copyright © 2001 MTVnews.com, All Rights Reserved
 |
|
|
08.26.01
Aaliyah Killed In Plane Crash
08.26.01
Fans Remember Aaliyah
08.26.01
Aaliyah Mourned As Artist Who Had 'Limitless Potential'
08.27.01
Timbaland, P. Diddy, Other Artists React To Aaliyah's Death
08.27.01
Hard-Working Aaliyah Packed Hit Albums, Movies Into Short Life
08.28.01
Aaliyah Plane Crash Investigation: No End In Sight
08.28.01
Damon Dash Says Every Day With Aaliyah Was Special
08.28.01
Jermaine Dupri, Hype Williams, Others Recall Aaliyah As 'Risk Taker,' 'Groundbreaker'
08.29.01
Aaliyah's Absence Felt At Lady Of Soul Awards
08.29.01
Pilot Of Aaliyah's Plane Had Been Caught With Cocaine, Was Not Authorized To Fly
08.29.01
Aaliyah Memorial Fund Established
08.30.01
Aaliyah's Final Video 'Very Special,' Director Says
08.30.01
Aaliyah's Videos To Be Played At Public Memorial
08.31.01
Fans, Artists Pay Last Respects To Aaliyah
08.31.01
Report Shows Aaliyah's Plane Was Overloaded
09.06.01
Janet, Missy, Others Honor Aaliyah During VMAs
09.10.01
Aaliyah's Plane Overloaded, Unbalanced, U.S. Report Says
10.04.01
Aaliyah Biography Slated For December
10.09.01
Aaliyah's Final Video To Premiere On Tuesday
11.16.01
Now 8 Hits Collection Dedicated To Aaliyah
11.21.01
Aaliyah Crash Investigation Focuses On Charter Company's Owner
12.26.01
Aaliyah's Brother Steps In To Finish Her Lines In Vampire Flick
02.25.02
Aaliyah, Six Months Later: #1 At Box Office With LP In Works
02.28.02
Families Of Men Killed In Aaliyah Crash File Lawsuits
03.04.02
Relatives Of Aaliyah's Bodyguard Suing For Wrongful Death
04.11.02
Aaliyah's 'Matrix' Role To Be Given To Nona Gaye
05.14.02
Aaliyah's Parents Accuse Virgin Of Negligence In Crash Suit
07.16.02
Cocaine, Alcohol Found In Pilot Of Aaliyah's Plane
10.28.02
New Aaliyah Single Premieres Online
11.06.02
Aaliyah LP Will Have Hits, Six New Songs, DVD Of Her Videos
11.15.02
Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim, Tweet To Lip-Sync In Aaliyah Video |
