The National Transportation Safety Board released the results of its preliminary investigation into a plane crash at St. George's airport that killed four men last month.
In its preliminary report, which does not say what caused the crash, NTSB investigators said security camera footage captured the plane taking off from St. George Municipal Airport about 1:20 a.m. May 26.
As it neared the end of the runway, the plane began to rapidly ascend and disappeared from the security camera's view. About seven second later, NTSB investigators said the plane reappeared farther away, but this time in a rapid descent. The plane crashed about 525 feet from the edge of the runway's center point, investigators found.
The impact of the crash left a portion of the Cessna's propeller blade and nose wheel embedded in the ground, the report shows.
The crash killed Christopher Jordan Chapman, 20, and Colby Chester Hafen, 28, both of Santa Clara; Tanner James Holt, 23, of Washington City and Georgia; and Alexander James Metzger, 22, of St. George.
The preliminary report did not identify which man was piloting the plane.
Authorities said the commercial pilot and his three passengers did not file a flight report, but the four were attempting to fly to Mesquite, Nev.
Twitter @sltribjanelle
