NTSB Concludes 2002 Plane Crash Resulted from Mid-Air Collision with Unidentified Object
Unresolved Mystery: 2002 Alabama Plane Crash Remains an Enigma
Alabama, October 23, 2002 – The enigmatic plane crash that claimed the life of Thomas Preziose still stirs questions and theories over two decades later. Preziose, the pilot of a Cessna 208B Caravan, experienced a mysterious midair collision, as confirmed by investigators, yet the object that his plane collided with has never been identified.
A Fateful Flight
Preziose’s flight was routine, transporting mail and packages, when disaster struck shortly after takeoff. Evidence found at the crash site hinted strongly at an air-to-air collision. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) discovered red transfer marks on his aircraft, which are indicative of direct contact with another object. Additionally, black anodized aluminum was found embedded in the plane’s exterior—materials not associated with the Cessna itself.
Freezing conditions, another potential cause, were ruled out as the freezing altitude was significantly higher than Preziose’s flying altitude. The only other known aircraft in the area was a DC-10, which was two miles ahead and moving away from Preziose’s plane.
Perplexing Communication
Shortly before the crash, Preziose reported an unidentified aircraft above him, followed by a distress call to air traffic control, “I need to deviate. I need to deviate.” Moments later, his plane entered an uncontrollable descent, crashing into a swamp.
The Unsolved Impact
The discovery of transfer marks in unusual locations, such as within the landing gear wheel, suggested a calamitous event rather than a mere bump. Damaged parts of Preziose’s aircraft were sent to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio for further analysis, and during this period, the DC-10 and its crew were grounded. Despite radar data showing no close encounter between the planes, the DC-10 was scrutinized but eventually cleared of any involvement in the crash.
Tests on the wreckage were inconclusive, leaving the source of the red marks and black anodized aluminum unidentifiable. Speculations arose, considering possibilities like a military drone or a drug-smuggling aircraft, although the NTSB dismissed these due to lack of evidence and logical inconsistencies.
Conspiracy Theories and Official Conclusion
Alternative theories, including a missile strike, also surfaced but lacked substantial evidence. Some suggested the red marks were from the barge on which the plane was stored post-crash, a theory the NTSB did not support.
The final NTSB report officially declared that Preziose’s Cessna 208B Caravan collided with an unknown object in midair.
For further details, refer to these sources:
Years after the crash, the NTSB revised their findings, attributing the cause to “pilot error.” For an in-depth exploration, read this Washington Post article.
As this aviation mystery endures, it leaves us pondering over the unseen risks that skybound travelers might face – a spectral puzzle lingering in the annals of aviation history.
