Executive Summary
- The NTSB has released a preliminary report on the October 13 plane crash on I-195 in Dartmouth, MA, which killed pilot Thomas Perkins and his wife, Angela Perkins.
- Shortly after takeoff, the pilot radioed his intent to return to the airport and declined offers of assistance from air traffic control.
- Controllers warned the pilot of low altitude moments before a final, unintelligible transmission was heard; communication was then lost.
- The incident occurred during a nor’easter with significant wind and rain. The full investigation is ongoing and a final cause has not been determined.
A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has provided new details regarding the final moments of a Socata TBM 700 aircraft that crashed onto Interstate 195 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on October 13, killing the two occupants. The report outlines the pilot’s communications with air traffic control but does not yet determine a cause for the fatal incident.
The crash killed the pilot, 68-year-old Thomas Perkins, and his wife, 66-year-old Angela Perkins. The aircraft had departed from New Bedford Regional Airport, bound for Kenosha, Wisconsin. Shortly after takeoff, Mr. Perkins radioed air traffic control to report that he was returning to the airport. When asked if he required assistance, the pilot declined, stating he “should be OK,” according to the NTSB report.
Approximately one minute later, the controller alerted Perkins that his altitude was low, a fact the pilot confirmed. The NTSB report states that “shortly after, the pilot made an unintelligible exclamation,” which was followed by a loss of communication. The plane subsequently crashed onto the highway, where it was engulfed in flames. A driver on the interstate whose vehicle was struck by debris sustained minor, non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash occurred during a nor’easter, with the National Weather Service reporting rain and winds of 30 to 40 mph at the time. According to the president of Angel Flight NE, Thomas Perkins was a volunteer pilot for the organization, having flown numerous missions over the past four years to transport patients for medical treatment.
The NTSB’s investigation into the crash is ongoing. A final report, which will seek to establish a definitive cause, will be released at a later date.