A preliminary report by aviation investigators into a plane crash last month that killed two South Hills men revealed that the pilot wrestled with his passenger, who was suffering from a diabetic emergency, moments before impact.
There did not appear to be any mechanical or weather problems that played a role in the deaths of Dr. William P. Price V, 63, of Upper St. Clair, and his passenger, Robert E. Depp, 64, of Mt. Lebanon, April 19 in Danville, Va., according to the report by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The information jibes with what Dr. Price's fiancee, Gerry Willis Benson, learned shortly after the crash from investigators -- that Mr. Depp might have been thrashing about the cabin and inadvertently interfered with control of the plane.
Investigators will not issue a final report for months, and the initial findings are subject to change.
Dr. Price and Mr. Depp, a technology support services manager at a law firm, were high school friends who left that morning from Finleyville Airpark in Washington County for a golf outing in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Around 9 a.m., Dr. Price declared a medical emergency and requested permission to divert to Danville Regional Airport because of Mr. Depp's "tremors." In another transmission, Dr. Price said he was "wrestling with the other guy," the safety board report says.
Dr. Price told air traffic controllers he had the airport in sight. Air traffic control cleared him for landing, but Dr. Price did not answer and moments later, the safety board said, radar contact was lost.
Witnesses said the four-seat, single-engine plane suddenly veered hard to the right and struck trees.
Safety board investigators said there was no evidence of problems with the aircraft or engine. The weather was calm with scattered clouds and good visibility.
Dr. Price had 609 hours of flying time.
Mr. Depp's family could not be reached for comment, but Ms. Benson said Mr. Depp diligently monitored his diabetes.
"I know that Bob Depp was a person who took extremely good care of himself," Ms. Benson said yesterday. "He just took excellent care of himself as a diabetic."
Ms. Benson said she and the Depps were good friends and she did not hold Mr. Depp responsible for the crash.
"It's a terrible shock for both of our families," Ms. Benson said. "They're friends of mine, and I loved him, too, as a friend ... This was not Bob's fault either."
