A final report on a deadly experimental homemade plane crash in Pennsylvania found that the pilot tumbled from the plane before it plunged to the ground.
The incident occurred near Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, late afternoon on Oct. 29, 2022.
The National Transportation Safety Board stated that just before the flight, the pilot told a friend that the airplane had a rigging issue that seemed to cause the airplane to "kick" laterally during turns.
The friend performed a 10-minute flight and reported that he noticed the odd motion during turns.
The pilot said he would deal with it later and fueled the plane.
The pilot and a passenger then fastened their seatbelts and took off from the airport.
The report found that flight track information indicated that several minutes after departure the airplane leveled off. Soon after, witnesses reported that the airplane "rolled" then "bucked" as its nose "dipped down initially," then pitched up "quickly."
Several witnesses reported seeing the pilot out of the airplane at the time, and one reported seeing the pilot impact and then "spiral" off the airplane's tail. Witnesses then watched in horror as the pilot and airplane plummeted to the ground.
The pilot andpassenger both died.
The airplane impacted the ground in a near-vertical, nose-down position. The debris field stretched 1,900 feet.
The pilot's body was found more than 500 feet from the main wreckage.
Because of the position of the pilot's seatbelt and shoulder harness investigators believe he intentionally unbuckled his seatbelt during the flight.
They think he may have been attempting to observe the problem with the tail.
Luzerne County coroner's office identified the pilot as Ronald Snyder 76, of Bernville, and the passenger as Michael Bowen, 59, of Jonestown.
