Preliminary Details of Fatal Chester County Plane Crash Released

The National Transportation Safety Board has released the results from its preliminary investigation into the March 29 crash in Chester County that killed the pilot and a passenger.

Richard Poch, 67, of West Chester, and Joseph Deal, 64, of Drexel Hill, died shortly after takeoff from Brandywine Airport in West Chester at approximately 1 p.m. on March 29. According to the report, the Piper PA-28-140 plane was registered to Deal, who piloted the aircraft at the time of the crash. The NTSB says that Deal had not flown since 2011, and Poch, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, was leading a flight review.

According to witness reports, the sound of a rough running engine was heard during a pre-flight check, but the condition cleared up after leaving the engine operating for a period of time.

An initial takeoff was aborted and the plane taxied to the approach end of the runway for a second attempt, the report says. Witnesses did not report any abnormal engine sounds associated with the first takeoff attempt.

During the seuccessful takeoff, several witnesses reported hearing sputtering from the engine when the airplane reached the midpoint of the runway. According to the report, one witness who was located south of the runway described the sputtering as significant, while a second witness described it lasting a few seconds while the airplane was only two to three feet above ground level. The nose of the airplane was observed to lower and engine power was heard to be restored.

The flight continued, and by several accounts, the airplane began to climb and the sputtering or popping sounds resumed as the plane traveled westbound over Route 202. One witness did not observe any smoke trailing the airplane during the second sound of pops, and he could not tell if the engine continued to run.

Witnesses reported seeing the plane struggle to maintain altitude, with one saying the airplane never climbed higher than 200 feet, the report says. The plane was seen taking a deep left turn that turned the aircraft vertical before it crashed into the backyard of a residence.

The airplane was destroyed by impact and a post-crash fire, the report says, fatally injuring Deal and Poch. A full investigation is still underway into possible mechanical failures, and a final report will be issued.

Photo 1: Richard Poch of West Chester

Photo 2: Joseph Deal of Drexel Hill