MUKILTEO — Investigators plan to take a close look at potential mechanical explanations for why a small plane crashed on a Mukilteo roadway Tuesday.
The plane will be moved to a hangar in Seattle for closer examination. It could be three to six months until investigators know what caused the crash, said Peter Knudson, of the National Transportation and Safety Board.
A 30-year-old man from Oregon left Paine Field around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. His single-engine plane lost power at about 500 feet.
Eliott Simpson, an investigator with the NTSB, said the engine will be one of the focus points in the investigation.
The pilot attempted to land on Harbour Pointe Boulevard. On his descent, he clipped power lines and struck a traffic signal in the intersection with the Mukilteo Speedway, causing a fuel leak. Burning gasoline rained down on cars below.
Two people had minor injuries. One received medical treatment at the scene. The other was taken to a hospital. The pilot was not hurt.
“The quick response from our first responders and partner agencies was critical to providing immediate aid to all involved parties and containing the crash scene for investigation,” Mukilteo Police Chief Cheol Kang said. “These partnerships prove to be so important when responding to critical incidents of this magnitude.”
Firefighters, paramedics and police officers from eight agencies lent a hand. The state Department of Transportation and Snohomish Public Utility District restored power to the city.
The plane was a Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, a single-engine plane popular with general-aviation pilots. It was built in 1966.
The NTSB expects to release additional information within a week or two.
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