LITCHFIELD, Maine — Two people died in a plane crash in Litchfield on Tuesday.
A preliminary report found that there were two people on board and they both suffered fatal injuries, according to a release from the National Transportation Safety Board. This preliminary information is subject to change, as an NTSB investigator was expected to arrive on site Wednesday morning to begin the on-scene portion of the investigation.
The crash happened at 5:40 p.m. Tuesday half a mile from Wales Airport in Litchfield, the NTSB said, adding the plane was a Beechcraft 99 operating as a part 135 cargo flight.
A preliminary report filed by the Federal Aviation Administration indicates the plane was operated by Wiggins Airways, with flight number WIG634. Wiggins Airways is a cargo airline based in Manchester, New Hampshire, that serves the Northeast. The aircraft that crashed Tuesday reportedly took off from Lewiston/Auburn at about 5:09 p.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Wales, Maine at approximately 5:40 p.m., according to a report from FlightAware.
"The investigator will document the accident site, airplane, and gather witness statements and any surveillance video that may have captured any part of the accident flight," the NTSB release stated. "The investigator will also collect any flight track or radar data."
The NTSB said the wreckage would be recovered and removed to an offsite facility for further analysis, and a preliminary report with factual information gathered to that point will be available in two to three weeks. The agency added that the final report, which will identify a probable cause and any contributing factors in the crash, won't be available for one to two years.
In a news release issued Wednesday, a spokesperson from Wiggins Airways noted that the aircraft was leased by the company and had two crew members on board at the time of the crash.
"We are filled with sorrow at the passing of our flight crew members," Wiggins Airways President Donna Nixon said. "The identities of the pilots will not be released out of respect to their families and friends. Our focus is on supporting their families and our employees through this difficult time.”
Ralph Hicks, a senior air safety investigator with NTSB, shared updates and fielded questions Wednesday afternoon during a press conference.
Hicks said two pilots were in the aircraft, but the preliminary investigation was not able to determine which pilot was flying at the time of the crash because the plane was being used for training, and flight controls were available to both pilots. There was also no black box on the aircraft, and the pilots were not in contact with air traffic control.
Hicks added the crash was a "high-energy impact," with an angle of about 25 degrees before it hit the ground, causing a wide debris field of 200 yards. No evidence of a fire in-flight or post-crash was found, Hicks said. The investigation is expected to last several months, while NTSB works to interview possible witnesses and look into maintenance records and both pilots.
Mike Albert, a nearby resident, said he was out on his boat when he heard a loud bang. His friends who were golfing saw the plane take a nosedive and heard a loud bang, too, Albert added.
"Today we heard a loud bang, not sure what it was," Albert said. "Called a friend on the top of Oak Hill on the road where it happened, and he went out and talked to people who closed the road and he confirmed it was a plane crash and they were looking for the wreckage."
A source who did not want to be identified told NEWS CENTER Maine they heard the crash just before 6 p.m. while at the Meadows Golf Course nearby. Golfers reportedly heard a motor running, getting louder, and then a loud boom.