The National Transportation Safety Board has released its initial report into last month’s fatal plane crash that killed two people, including Nathan Finney, who owned several businesses in Bloomington.
The recently published report cites the witness account of a woman who was driving on Interstate 74.
The woman told investigators she saw the plane, a Cirrus SR22T, flying over a field and described it as “very low and looked stalled or as if it was hovering or hanging.” She estimated the plane’s altitude to be roughly 200 feet.
The report says that the woman reported seeing the airplane take a sharp left turn, and then “seemed to lose all control.”
At one point, the woman said the plane’s wings were vertical before leveling out “extremely close to the ground.”
She reported losing track of the plane behind trees, and then witnessing a fireball and thick black smoke.
The NTSB says a post-accident investigation found that wings are believed to have been fully retracted and the aileron trim was neutral.
Investigators collected evidence from the wreckage for further examination.
Flight records from FlightAware show that the plane left the Monroe County Airport in Bloomington at 4:05 p.m. on Nov. 22 and was last seen near Shelbyville at 4:46 p.m.
According to the Indiana State Police, troopers responded to an area in rural Shelby County on Nov. 22 for reports of small plane crash. Troopers reported observing smoke coming from the middle of a corn field.
ISP says that first responders uncovered a “severely damaged” small aircraft, a recovered the bodies of two adult males.
Finney was the owner and founder of Finney Hospitality Group, which owns and operates several restaurants in Bloomington.
Last month, the company, which owns Social Cantina, The Tap, Yogi’s and several other businesses, confirmed his death in a statement.
“It is with great shock and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of our esteemed President and Founder, Nathan Finney.
His vision, dedication, and leadership have been instrumental in shaping Finney Hospitality Group into the thriving enterprise it is today.
During this challenging time, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Nathan’s family, friends, and loved ones. We recognize his immense impact on all aspects of our business and the lives of those fortunate enough to have known him.Finney Hospitality Group official statement on the death of its president and founder, Nathan Finney
Flight instructor Warren Bruhl was also onboard the Cirrus SR22T when it crashed, according to a Facebook post by Gambit Aviation.
Finney had just recently earned his pilot’s license and had purchased the Cirrus aircraft, according to a Facebook post by Mason Amelia, which is a company that offers brokerage services for aviation purchases.
