Loss of engine power confirmed in Jan. 24, 2020, Auburn plane crash that killed 2

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a report Wednesday regarding the condition of the engine in the Stinson Vultee V-77 airplane that crashed Jan. 24, 2020, minutes after departing Auburn Municipal Airport. The report confirmed the cause of the crash was due to the engine losing power. The examination revealed the engine's No. 2 cylinder had a defective front spark plug and worn and cracked wire coatings. The No. 4 cylinder was also noted to have worn and cracked wire coatings, and the No. 7 cylinder intake valve was stuck open. Additionally, the report noted the ignition harness showed wear and fraying, and metal and carbon debris were found in the oil filter element. Metal debris was also found inside the engine. "The engine maintenance manual states that, 'metal particles, in any amount greater than a trace, require a very careful inspection of the engine, as the presence of these articles is usually an indication of an impending part failure,' " the report states. The plane departed Auburn Municipal Airport at about 9:45 a.m. Jan. 24, 2020, and crashed just after 10 a.m. near Black Oak Golf Course and Dry Creek Road in Auburn. The February 2020 preliminary report noted witnesses "heard the airplane's engine 'backfiring' and 'stuttering' and subsequently heard the engine quit," and an airport witness heard the pilot make a distress call stating "he had lost his engine." Anthony Lawrence Wright Sr. and Anthony Lawrence Wright Jr. were killed, and a third passenger, identified only as Nick by the Placer County Sheriff's Office, sustained a dislocated hip, broken sternum, cracked collarbone and several other broken bones. According to the NTSB's investigation dashboard, the investigation of the crash is ongoing.