NTSB releases plane crash causes

The National Transportation Safety Board has determined the probable cause of two 2007 plane crashes, one of which killed two people.

The fatal crash of a Cessna 150 on July 26 in Campbellton was caused by "the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall," investigators wrote.

The crash killed John-Allen Watson, 7, and the plane's pilot, Harvey "Russ" Ragan, 47, a radio personality on WTVY-FM in Dothan, Ala. A witness told officials the plane started "sputtering" just after it cleared several trees and power lines after takeoff, Jackson County sheriff's officials previously said. The witness also said the plane seemed to lose power in mid-flight and nose-dived into a dried-up pond.

Investigators also released findings on the Feb. 17, 2007, crash of a Bellanca 17-30A near Fountain. Two people, pilot Roger James and a passenger, Lee Pittman, were seriously injured in the crash.

The wreck was caused by a "loss of engine power" that resulted from "a cracked engine exhaust muffler," investigators wrote. They added that "inadequate inspection procedures" of the muffler system and wiring contributed to the accident.

During the flight, an electrical fire broke out in the cabin, causing the plane to stall, investigators on the scene told The News Herald in 2007. The plane crashed into the swampy Sweetwater Creek area, where it was incinerated.

The probable cause reports are the final step in the crash investigation, NTSB officials said. The report is issued after the board meets, examines the evidence surrounding the crash and determines what happened.