(Radio Iowa) — Newly released information from the National Safety Transportation Board’s investigation into a fatal airplane crash last month near Guthrie Center, shows a crack in an exhaust muffler that provided heat inside the plane, contributed to the crash. The report says the inner surface of the muffler heat shroud was coated in sooty tan and grey colored deposits. Similar deposits were also present on the inner surface of the cabin heat hose that ducted air from the shroud to the cabin heat distributer box assembly. Toxicology testing performed by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s office revealed elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the blood of all four occupants. Killed in that plane crash were 49-year old Ed Anderson, of Le Mars, the pilot. 36-year old Patrick Kellen of Le Mars, 15-year old Samantha Clark of Le Mars, and 28-year old Tyler Douvia of Merrill.

Read the entire report here: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20181110X83525&AKey=1&RType=HTML&IType=FA&fbclid=IwAR3F8avOpqlc38kV_73rioE5unn1DrCWKKdi9q83ekwh6SWhdv6eFeve-wo