NTSB - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 5, 2002 SB-02-15

NTSB RELEASES FINAL REPORT ON INVESTIGATION INTO CRASH OF CESSNA CARRYING MISSOURI GOVERNOR CARNAHAN

Washington D.C. - The National Transportation Safety Board today released its final report on the October 16, 2000 crash of a Cessna 335 in Hillsboro, Missouri. The accident took the lives of Missouri governor Mel Carnahan, his son Randy, and his campaign aide, Chris Sifford.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the pilot’s failure to control the airplane while maneuvering because of spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident were the failure of the airplane’s primary attitude indicator and the adverse weather conditions, including turbulence.

The full accident report may be accessed on the NTSB website on the Publications page, http://www.ntsb.gov/Publictn/A_Acc1.htm. The NTSB accident number is CHI01MA011.

Media Contact: Lauren Peduzzi (202) 314-6100

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