NTSB releases preliminary report on fatal plane crash in Lewiston

LEWISTON, NY — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary report on the fatal plane crash in Lewiston that killed the pilot, 26-year-old Melanie Georger.

The NTSB launched an investigation into the crash of the single-engine plane and the wreckage site along the Niagara Scenic Parkway following the July 20 accident.

An initial investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff's Office found that Georger was the only person on board the plane when it fell from the sky. She was returning to land after dropping off several skydivers from Skydive the Falls.

Georger is a graduate of Kenmore East High School and the University at Buffalo, where she studied aerospace engineering. Her father told 2 On Your Side in July that she is an aviation lover.

Before releasing the report, the NTSB said it did not want to speculate about the cause of the crash while it was gathering possible evidence at the scene. However, investigators had already begun documenting the wreckage, packing it and preparing it for further examination at an off-site location.

The preliminary report states that Georger had completed five flights without incident on the morning of the July 20 accident. The fatal accident occurred during the sixth flight, after all jumpers had left the plane and Georger was the only one left on board.

“According to preliminary Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control (ATC) communications, at 11:35 a.m., the pilot reported to Buffalo Approach West radar control that the flight was 2 minutes from drop zone. At 11:40 a.m., the controller attempted to terminate the aircraft's radar services but received no response. At 11:44 a.m., another company aircraft attempting to locate the accident aircraft observed smoke on the ground approximately 2 to 3 miles west of the drop zone.” according to the NTSB report.

The report also details Gregorer's experiences as a pilot, dating back to April 2014.

“Her most recent FAA first class medical certificate was issued on July 31, 2023. As of July 2024, she had accumulated approximately 1,449 hours of total flight experience, including approximately 102 hours on the make and model of the accident aircraft,” the report said.

Click here to view the full report with details of Georger's route and the accident location.