An object was seen separating from a Zenith STOL CH-701 experimental aircraft approximately one minute after departure from Neosho Hugh Robinson Memorial Airport on September 7, seconds before the plane crashed and killed both occupants.
The NTSB preliminary report identifies the two fatalities as Karl Kemp, a longtime pilot from Neosho who owned the aircraft, and passenger Larry Howard, 42, of Granby, Missouri.
According to the NTSB, Kemp had flown to the airport that afternoon to assist a friend with maintenance on a separate airplane. The work involved temporarily removing the airspeed indicator from Kemp's CH-701 and installing it in the other aircraft to facilitate a ferry flight. After that flight was completed, the indicator was reinstalled in Kemp's plane and tested.
Kemp and Howard then departed. About a minute into the flight, a dashcam located less than a mile from the airport captured an unknown object falling from the aircraft. The plane crashed seconds later. Investigators subsequently identified the object as one of the devices designed to improve cruise efficiency while preserving the aircraft's short takeoff and landing performance.
The NTSB has not stated a probable cause. The investigation is ongoing.
