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yesterday

NTSB Confirms Rudder Malfunction in Fatal Boca Raton Plane Crash

Preliminary report reveals control issue on first post-inspection flight, killing three family members and injuring one motorist.

Emergency personnel respond to the area where a small plane crashed on the railroad tracks beneath the overpass near Interstate 95 in Boca Raton, Fla., on Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Emergency personnel respond to the area where a small plane crashed on the railroad tracks beneath the overpass near Interstate 95 in Boca Raton, Fla., on April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
A small plane crashed on the railroad tracks beneath the overpass at Glades Road and Military Trail near Interstate 95 in Boca Raton on Friday, April 11, 2025. (Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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Overview

  • The April 11 crash of a 1977 Cessna 310R in Boca Raton was caused by a rudder malfunction that restricted the plane to left turns, according to an NTSB preliminary report released May 7.
  • The flight was the aircraft's first since completing its annual inspection, with both engines confirmed operational during the incident.
  • Flight-tracking data showed the plane made at least nine low-altitude left turns before crashing near I-95, where it struck trees and skidded onto railroad tracks.
  • All three occupants—a family of experienced pilots and a high school student—died in the crash, and a motorist sustained minor injuries after losing control near the fiery wreckage.
  • The NTSB has recovered all major components of the plane, including the rudder, which showed impact and thermal damage; a final report on the probable cause is expected within two years.