DENVER (AP) -- Federal investigators say pilot error caused a small plane crash north of Denver that killed all five people on board.
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board say 67-year-old Oliver Frascona failed to maintain airspeed and exceeded his aircraft's critical angle of attack, causing the Piper PA 46 Malibu to stall. The NTSB also concluded that his decision to land on a runway with another plane taking off in the opposing direction contributed to the crash.
The Denver Post reports the Aug. 31, 2014, crash killed Frascona, 41-year-old Tori Rains-Wedan and her three sons -- 15-year-old Mason and 11-year-old twin brothers Austin and Hunter. A dog also died when the plane went down.
The NTSB report released Wednesday says Frascona's plane came within close proximity of the departing aircraft.
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