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NTSB releases preliminary report on fatal aircraft crash

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NTSB has released its preliminary report on the June 12 aircraft crash in near Henderson that killed two people.

In the report, The NTSB states that the unregistered QuickSilver Sport 2S light sport airplane collided with trees near Henderson.

Both pilot and passenger were killed in that crash. Read more about the initial investigation here. Officials identified the pilot as 49-year-old Kirk Bellard of Breaux Bridge (formerly of Eunice) and passenger 38-year-old Marcus D. Guidry of Breaux Bridge. The report found that the airplane had an expired Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) registration.

On the day of the crash, the plane took off from a private airstrip near Cecilia at around 10:30 a.m.

The following is a full report of the aircraft's travel according to the NTSB:

"After the takeoff to the southeast, the airplane entered a climbing left turn to east northeast and flew over downtown Cecilia, Louisiana, about 400 ft mean sea level (msl). The airplane then continued northeast until 1036:35 when it entered a left turn to west while maintaining a cruise altitude and ground speed of about 450 ft msl and 55 mph, respectively. The airplane then landed at Juneau Landing Strip, a private airstrip located 2.5 miles southeast of Arnaudville, Louisiana. After the touch-and-go landing toward the northwest, the airplane entered a climbing right turn toward east. The airplane climbed to maximum altitude of 888 ft msl while maintaining an east course and an average ground speed of about 55 mph. At 1048:31, the airplane entered a left turn toward north and began a shallow descent. The final GPS data point was recorded at 1049:34 about 0.48 miles south of the accident site. At that point the airplane was still flying north and had descended to and decelerated to 778 ft msl and 42 mph ground speed, respectively."

Officials say there were no eye-witnesses to the final flight path of the aircraft before the crash.

The report states that the initial point of impact was at the top of the tree line around 65 feet above the ground and 50 feet from the final crash site. An assessment of the aircraft following the crash found damage consistent with a nose-down impact, according the report. The examination also revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure of the aircraft.

The aircraft's pilot was found by the NTSB to have all necessary FAA qualifications to pilot the aircraft. The report found no previous accidents, incidents, or enforcement proceedings. The passenger had an expired student pilot certificate.