The pilot killed in a Baltimore County plane crash last month reported an autopilot problem minutes into the flight and he circled twice before he lost radio contact, according to a preliminary investigation report.
Pilot Theodore Ryder, 45, of Joppa, requested clearance to land in Frederick minutes after taking off from Harford County on his way to Abingdon, Va., according to a report released this weekend by the National Transportation Safety Board. Ryder and two friends, Paul Sorensen and Timothy Conner, both 48 and also from Joppa, died in the March 24 crash in a wooded area of Jacksonville.
The report, which does not attempt to determine a cause, describes an 85-foot-long field of debris with portions of tree limbs showing cut marks consistent with propellers.
The passenger entry and baggage door latches on the six-seat Piper Saratoga were closed and the landing gear was up.
“It appears the propeller was rotating at the time of impact, and it gives you indication that power was being provided by the engine, but was it enough?” asked Ted Lopatkiewicz, an NTSB spokesman. “You can make that kind of analysis, but we?re not in the position to do that.”
Another report is expected in about five months, said Lopatkiewicz, which will be followed by a final report that will include a probable cause.
Ryder took off at about 9:06 a.m. that day to cloudy skies, according to the report. Climbing to an altitude of about 4,000 feet, Ryder requested clearance to divert from his flight plan. Shortly afterward, the plane circled to the left 2.5 times at varying altitudes until radar and radio contact were lost.
The plane crashed about 9:19 a.m. All major components of the plane, which was last inspected March 1, were located at the accident site, officials said.
