THANK GOD!!! NTSB releases preliminary report on deadly Osteen plane crash in 2022.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report on a fatal plane crash that occurred in Osteen, Florida, last month. The aircraft involved was an experimental, amateur-built MXR Technologies MX2, which had taken off from Spruce Creek Fly-In in Port Orange. The flight was part of a training and demonstration event for foreign Air Force pilots.
Two individuals lost their lives in the crash: Miroslav D. Velickovich, a 61-year-old Georgia-based flight instructor, and Miguel Duarte, a 34-year-old major in the Peruvian Air Force. The plane crashed upside down in a dense wooded area east of Lake Ashby, about a mile north of Lopez Road in Osteen.
The ill-fated flight was the first of two planned aerobatic demonstration flights, with Duarte as the Peruvian pilot being trained by Velickovich. According to the NTSB’s initial findings, the aircraft departed from Spruce Creek Fly-In at 4:32 p.m. and was flying normally for the first seven minutes. However, when the plane did not return as expected, search efforts were initiated.
The NTSB report states that the wreckage was found intact, with all components of the plane located at the crash site. A strong fuel odor was present, but there was no sign of fire. The lower fuselage structure remained in good condition, though the canopy frame was fractured and detached. While the left wing was largely undamaged, the right wing sustained a mid-span fracture. Additionally, two of the three propeller blades were damaged.
The preliminary investigation found no mechanical issues with the plane’s engine that would have affected its normal operation. The NTSB report did not mention weather as a factor, noting that the day was calm and clear. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and the findings are subject to change before the final report is released.
The wreckage has been transported to a secure facility in Jacksonville for further analysis as investigators continue to examine the details surrounding the tragic incident.