Preliminary NTSB report on deadly New Market plane crash released

NEW MARKET, Tenn. (WATE) — A preliminary report has been released detailing a plane crash that left two dead in Jefferson County last month. Edwin "Rory" DuPont, 49, and 74-year-old Allen Holman died when the plane crashed near New Market on April 13. The National Transportation Safety Board released the preliminary investigation report on Tuesday. "The commercial pilot, and airplane owner, was receiving an instrument competency check from the flight instructor when the accident occurred," the NTSB wrote. After departing from Knoxville Downtown Island Airport, the aircraft proceeded northeast towards Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport. The airplane made a low approach over the runway before it turned north and executed the published missed approach procedure. Following a circuit of the holding pattern, it turned northwest toward New Market. The report said data from the final minute of the flight show the plane made a right turn toward the northeast as its groundspeed decreased to 17 knots and it began a steep descent toward the ground. One witness observed the plane with its nose down before it impacted the ground, but did not recall hearing any engine noises or observing any smoke or fire, according to the report. Another witness who lived less than two miles from the crash site reported that it did not sound normal, though she did not see the airplane, and reported it sounded as if it were in a spiral. According to the report, she said that the engine sound changed drastically, alternating between what sounded like full power and idle at one-second intervals, before hearing the impact with the ground. Both engines were buried about four feet in the ground at the crash site. The report said the airplane sustained extensive impact damage and was largely destroyed by the post-impact fire.