NTSB Issues Update on Michigan College Basketball Plane Incident
No conclusive reasons were found, but certain evidence may help explain what happened.
The NSTB has issued an update for the March 8, 2017, failed takeoff of the University of Michigan's men's basketball team from Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Mich. According to the report, no probable cause was found, but certain information was found that could help explain how it happened.
Examiners found that the elevator controls on the right side were jammed when trying to move them post-accident, due to a damaged geared tab inboard pushrod. Once these parts were moved, the elevator was able to be moved by hand.
Flight data indicated the left elevator moved normally during the intended takeoff, but the right elevator did not move. A total of 109 passengers and seven crewmembers were able to escape the aircraft via slides after the plane came to rest, and only one passenger suffered a minor injury during the evacuation.