Witnesses of the fatal Iron County plane crash hint at odd maneuvers before crash

SALT LAKE CITY – The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report of April’s fatal plane crash in Iron County hints at odd maneuvers before the crash.

According to the two witnesses, they noticed the plane making maneuvers that seemed abnormal.

The first witness said that the plane was about to pass him on State Highway 14 but turned quickly and was in a “rocking motion.” He added that the propeller looked underpowered and was not working right.

The second witness supported these events and saw the plane “bank really hard to the south, back across the highway” as if it was trying to turn around in the canyon. He noticed the plane having speed issues with the wings looking upright and didn’t look fast enough for the turn. 

Both witnesses said the plane was about 200 to 300 feet above the ground when it attempted the turn.

The NTSB report corroborates the timeline of pilot Steven Eatchel and his three passengers, Lindsay Eatchel, Thomas Eatchel, and Danielle Deagostini, leaving for a sightseeing trip starting in Spanish Fork, to Cedar City, then to Bryce Canyon and other locations before returning to Spanish Fork.

The plane crashed upside down into a tree in the canyon, causing it to break apart, according to the report.

The NTSB said this is a preliminary report, and details might change as the investigation continues.