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3mo ago

NTSB Preliminary Report Details Rudder Malfunction in Fatal Boca Raton Plane Crash

The April 11 crash killed three family members and injured one motorist, with the investigation into the probable cause expected to take up to two years.

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 Cessna 310R, built in 1977, crashed during its first flight after an annual inspection, with a rudder malfunction limiting the plane to left turns.
  • Flight-tracking data and video revealed the aircraft made at least nine low-altitude loops before crashing near I-95 in Boca Raton, Florida.
  • The crash killed Robert Stark, 81, Stephen Stark, 54, and Brooke Stark, 17, while a motorist on the ground sustained minor injuries.
  • The plane struck trees, a roadway, and railroad tracks before erupting into a fireball, with the wreckage showing severe impact and thermal damage.
  • The NTSB’s preliminary report confirms the rudder issue and other factual details but defers determining the crash's probable cause to a final report expected within two years.