NTSB: No evidence of flight control malfunction before multiple explosions in Maine plane crash

The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report Friday into the plane crash at the Bangor International Airport in January. All six people on board died, including four passengers, pilot, and copilot, making it one of the deadliest plane crashes in Maine history.The report says there is no evidence of a flight control malfunction or failure, and that both engines continued to develop takeoff power until the flight data recorder (FDR) recording stopped.The report says the plane, a Bombardier CL-600-2B16 (Challenger 650), took off from William P. Hobby Airport in Houston at 2:20 p.m. CST on Jan. 25 and flew to Bangor to refuel on its way to Châlons Vatry Airport in Châlons-en-Champagne, France.After refueling in Bangor, the report says the plane had a total fuel load of about 19,872 pounds. The report says the plane was deiced at about 7:20 p.m. as snow fell across the state, and surface visibility was 3/4 of a mile. After deicing was complete, the report says the plane sat for four minutes and 51 seconds before taxiing away from the deice pad. According to a preliminary review of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), the flight crew discussed holdover times during the taxi to runway 33. The pilot commented that it was “standard” to have 14 to 18 minutes and that if the wait was more than 30 minutes, they would return to the ramp to deice again.The plane arrived at runway 33 at 7:40 p.m., and at 7:42, the copilot told the tower that they were ready for takeoff. The flight was cleared to take off three seconds later.The FDR says engine power started to increase for takeoff at 7:43:57 p.m. The plane was off the ground within 30 seconds.The plane crashed moments later after only getting a few feet off the ground, and cameras recorded multiple explosions after the plane hit the ground.The report says the plane went off the right side of the runway into the grass safety area.The debris field was about 1,270 feet long and 150 feet wide, and the plane came to rest upside down.The report says the wings remained attached to the fuselage, and all landing gear was still extended. There was no evidence of a pre-impact separation of any airplane component, flight control, or structure.The report also says the cockpit, cabin and tail assembly all showed damage consistent with a prolonged post-impact fire.As part of the investigation, the NTSB says ongoing efforts include a look at aircraft operations, aircraft performance, flight recorders, airport operations, survival factors, and human performance. Who was using the plane?The jet was registered to a corporation that shares the same address as Houston based personal injury law firm Arnold & Itkin. One of the law firm’s founding partners is listed as the registered agent for the company that owns the plane.Arnold & Itkin was established in 2004 by personal injury trial lawyers Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin, according to the firm’s website.Identities of all victimsAll six people who were killed in the plane crash have been identified by the Bangor Police Department.The six victims are Tara Arnold, Shawna Collins, Jacob Hosmer, Shelby Kuyawa, Nick Mastrascusa and Jorden Reidel.Arnold, 46, of Texas, worked as an attorney for Arnold & Itkin, which was co-founded by her husband, Kurt.”My heart hurts for them and their children and their families,” said Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones, who worked at Arnold & Itkin for a time. “This is just a tragedy and in particular Tara, she is just a phenomenal person, a bold leader and somebody who had a heart of service.”Kurt and Tara Arnold also founded and owned Beyond Luxury, a luxury travel company that Collins, Kuyawa and Mastrascusa all worked for.Collins, 53, of Texas, is listed on the Beyond Luxury website as the company’s luxury event designer and experience curator.According to her daughter, Collins was a passenger on the jet. Collins’ daughter told ABC News that she spoke to her mother before the flight, and that Collins said she was excited about an upcoming business trip to Europe.The Lakewood Church, led by pastor Joel Osteen and his wife, Victoria, confirmed to the Houston Chronicle that Collins was a church staff member. Lakewood Church spokesperson Donald Iloff Jr. told The Associated Press that Collins oversaw the church’s customer service department.”She was a light that brightened our days, and she possessed a beautiful spirit that lifted everyone she met,” Lakewood Church said in an emailed statement to the Houston Chronicle. We loved Shawna dearly, and we will miss her more than words can express. We pray for her entire family and offer them our love and support during this difficult time.”Kuyawa, 34, of Hawaii, is listed as a Level 3 advanced sommelier on the Beyond Luxury website. She had 15 years of experience in luxury hotels, resorts and private clubs and started her career working for the Four Seasons in Vail, Colorado and Hualalai, Hawaii. Kuyawa then served as assistant food and beverage director at Discovery Land’s Kūkiʻo Golf and Beach Club on Hawaii’s Big Island, where she oversaw restaurant operations, curated special events, and directed wine education and training programs.The Beyond Luxury website states Kuyawa graduated from New Mexico State University with degrees in hospitality management and German. She also held certifications through the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.Mastrascusa, 43, of Hawaii, was the executive vice president of hospitality for Beyond Luxury. He is survived by his wife and their three children.An award-winning chef and sommelier, Mastrascusa had a culinary career that spanned more than two decades in some of the world’s most celebrated luxury hotels, private clubs and resorts, according to his biography on the Beyond Luxury website. Mastrascusa previously served as executive chef and director of food and beverage at Discovery Land’s Kūkiʻo Golf and Beach Club, where he oversaw three restaurants and a wine program.Hosmer, 47, of Texas, was one of the two pilots who died in the crash, his cousin told ABC News.”He is in heaven now with Jesus,” Hosmer’s family said.Reidel, 33, of Texas, was likely the second member of the plane’s flight crew, based on the backgrounds of the other five victims and the information that has been shared by their families.Video below: Bangor Airport director faces questions about weather during deadly plane crashJet had history of cold-weather risksFlight records reviewed by sister station WMTW’s 8 Investigates show the jet involved in Sunday’s crash carries a federal warning related to cold-weather operations.The FAA issued a directive in 2008 requiring a specific warning in the flight manual for the Bombardier Challenger 600, citing concerns about winter weather and takeoff safety. The directive followed three incidents in Canada.According to the FAA, even small amounts of ice, frost or slush on the wings could cause a pilot to lose control of the aircraft during takeoff.It is not yet known whether that history played any role in Sunday’s crash.Video below: 8 Investigates digs into records on Bombardier Challenger 600During a media briefing on Jan. 26, Bangor International Airport Director Jose Saavedra acknowledged that the weather was a factor in many airport operations on Jan. 25.”Even before the accident, there were a significant amount of cancellations and delays already on the board,” Saavedra said.Saavedra said different criteria can be used to determine if conditions are poor enough to close the runway.”It’s on a case-by-case situation,” he said.Airport officials said the last arrival into Bangor International before the crash was a scheduled domestic flight at 7:38 p.m. Sunday. The last departure before the crash was a private aircraft at 5:33 p.m. Sunday.