Norman pilot lost control while trying to abort a landing

Thursday, July 14th 2005, 6:43 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- A preliminary report says a doctor who was piloting a twin-engine plane that crashed at Max Westheimer Airport last week lost control while trying to abort a landing.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday that Robert Spector tried to clear the terminal for another landing attempt when one wing clipped the building.

The 62-year-old died when the Piper Seneca PA-34 nose-dived into the ground July 6th.

According to the report, a private pilot who witnessed the crash from inside the terminal said the airplane came in low with a right wing angled toward the ground.

Blanchard resident Ty Breckenridge told investigators the nose wheel hit the ground first, causing the main right wheel to slam the runway and bounce the plane back into the air.

NTSB investigators say a final report on the crash won't be released until an investigation is completed six to nine months from now.