YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. — The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into the single-engine plane crash that took the life of a 26-year-old pilot from the Town of Tonawanda.
Melanie Georger was pronounced dead at the crash site along the Niagara Scenic Parkway on Saturday after the Cessna 208B she was flying hit the ground around 12:30 p.m. according to the Niagara County Sheriff's Office.
An initial investigation by the Sheriff's Office revealed that Georger was the only person onboard when the plane fell out of the sky. She had been headed back to land after dropping off several skydivers from Skydive the Falls.
Georger is a graduate of Kenmore East High School and the University at Buffalo where she studied aerospace engineering. Her father told 2 On Your Side Saturday that she was a lover of aviation.
On Monday, NTSB investigators were at the crash site working through the wreckage.
The fuselage or main body of the plane was loaded on the back of a trailer and what appeared to be a section of the tail was lifted and moved up the embankment where it sat using a small crane.
In a statement, the NTSB said it would not speculate regarding the cause of the crash while they gather any potential evidence at the scene, adding that investigators have begun documenting the wreckage, packing it up, and getting it ready for further review at an off-site location.
Investigators will gather the following information and records with three primary areas in mind: the pilot, the aircraft, and the operating environment.
- Flight track data
- Recordings of any air traffic control communications
- Aircraft maintenance records
- Weather forecasts and actual weather and lighting conditions around the time of the accident
- Pilot’s license, ratings, and recency of flight experience
- 72-hour background of the pilot to determine if there were any issues that could have affected the pilot’s ability to safety operate the flight
- Witness statements
- Electronic devices that could contain information relevant to the investigation
- Any available surveillance video, including from doorbell cameras
The NTSB has asked that anyone who witnessed the crash or might have surveillance video or other information that could be relevant to their investigation contact them at witness@ntsb.gov.
A representative of Skydive the Falls told 2 On Your Side Monday over the phone that it would not be commenting on the crash until after the NTSB investigation.
A preliminary report from the NTSB which will state the facts of the crash is expected within 30 days of the accident.
Any discussion of probable causes along with contributing factors for the crash will be detailed in a final report that could take 12-24 months to be released.