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NTSB releases preliminary report on deadly plane crash at John Prince Park

Posted at 10:26 AM, Sep 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-18 18:21:38-04

The twin-engine plane that went down Sept.  9 at John Prince Park crashed less than two months after its most recent annual inspection, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Pilot Philip Castronova, 70, and his 39-year-old wife Mandy Castronova, died in the crash. Castronova did not file a flight plane prior to take off from Key West, the report noted.

MORE: Relatives remember plane crash victims

Castronova, was first issued a pilot’s certificate in 1977. However, records show the FAA suspended the certificate for 180 days in 1995 due to four violations. 

In 1997, Castronova’s certificate was revoked because of a “fraudulent” or “intentionally false” statement on an application for a medical certification. 

The NTSB report said Castronova's most recent medical certificate was issued on June 30, 2014.

The report states that the plane's most recent annual inspection was performed on July 23, 2018.

Investigators found the pilot's logbook which showed Castronova had accumulated 1,779 hours of total flight experience "of which 157 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane."

Witnesses in the report said the Cessna 335 rolled back and forth, became inverted and then headed to the ground in a spiral or spin on approach to Palm Beach County Park Airport in Lantana.

All major components of the aircraft were present at the crash scene, according to the NTSB. It noted the center and forward fuselage and a large section of the left wing were significantly damaged by fire after impact.

A final report from the NTSB is expected in 18-to-24 months.