National Transportation Safety Board investigators are now at the site of a plane crash in Lyon County. The twin-engine crash occurred Friday night near Kuttawa, killing four passengers from southern Illinois and leaving 7-year-old Sailor Gutzler as the sole survivor.
Marty and Kimberly Gutzler, their 9-year-old daughter Piper and her 14-year-old cousin Sierra Wilder were killed in the crash. They were en route to their hometown, Nashville, Ill., after vacationing in Florida.
In a news conference held Sunday at the Lyon County Convention Center, NTSB air safety investigator Heidi Moats said a six-person team had arrived at the site to begin gathering perishable evidence and documenting the site. Perishable evidence includes ground scars, marks on nearby trees and fuel spills.
Moats said a salvage company had also arrived at the scene to begin working on removing the plane. Once the plane is removed, NTSB officials will thoroughly examine the airframe and engine at a local facility.
Moats said a preliminary report will be issued on the NTSB's website in "about 10 days", but a probable cause will take much longer.
"As we continue to gather the facts, we will look into the man, the machine and the environment and put together a factual report that will be issued in about a year," Moats said. "After that, that report will be sent to the NTSB five-member safety board, and from there, they will issue the probable cause."
Kentucky State Police Lt. Brent White said the plane's final communicated elevation was 1,800 feet. He didn't disclose the specific emergency distress call the Gutzlers made.
Moats said the NTSB will eventually talk to Sailor Gutzler about her experience in the crash.
"Having someone that is a witness always helps us in the investigation," Moats said. "It gives us a storyline. It's helpful in any situation."
