Washington – The crash of a charter jet in western Colorado that killed the son of NBC Sports executive Dick Ebersol and two others was consistent with ice on the upper part of the wing, federal investigators said today.
The plane crashed shortly after taking off from the Montrose airport on Nov. 28, 2004, killing 14-year-old Teddy Ebersol, pilot Luis Polanco-Espaillat, 50, and flight attendant Warren Richardson III, 36. At the time, the temperature was below freezing and there was snow on the ground and slush on the runway.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators said today they had repeatedly warned pilots to check for ice on the wings, even if it wasn’t visible, by running their hands along the surface.
Investigators were reporting to the NTSB, which was scheduled to vote on the probable cause of the crash later today.
Before Polanco-Espaillat took off, he and his co-pilot looked out the window to check the condition of the wings of the twin-engine Canadair jet. According to the cockpit recorder, the pilot said “Looks clear to me.” Investigators have sifted through wreckage, examined pictures, transcripts and interviews of witnesses and passengers.
Icing is on the NTSB’s “most wanted” list of causes of accidents, investigators said.
“This is a tragedy that should not have happened,” said acting Chairman Mark Rosenker.
According to a preliminary report released earlier this year, Dick and Charlie Ebersol reported seeing liquid or slush on the plane before takeoff.
The Ebersols were on their way from the airport near the ski community of Telluride, to South Bend, Ind., to take Charlie Ebersol back to college.
The plane skidded across the runway, ripped apart and burst into flames. Dick and Charlie Ebersol and the first officer were seriously injured.
