Pilot died on impact

Preliminary report on skydive crash expected today

Preliminary results from an autopsy conducted on the pilot of the skydive plane that crashed Saturday indicate that he died on impact.

Flathead County Sheriff Mike Meehan said this week that the State Crime Lab in Missoula found no smoke in Troy Norling's lungs. The 28-year-old pilot from Onalaska, Wis., had worked at Skydive Lost Prairie for 10 days before Saturday morning's tragedy.

The Cessna 182-C burst into flames when it crashed nose-first into the airstrip at Skydive Lost Prairie. The lack of smoke in his lungs indicated that he stopped breathing before the fire broke out.

Although autopsies were not done on the four passengers, Meehan said it is likely all died on impact, as well.

Joel Atkinson, 25, of Kalispell was one of two parachute instructors who died in the crash. The other was David Landneck Jr., from Missoula. They were planning to conduct tandem jumps with parachute students Jennifer Sengpiel and Kyle Mills, both of Great Falls.

The students, both musicians with the Great Falls Symphony, were to be married late this summer. They had just finished packing up their belongings before a move to the Calgary area at the end of May, and were taking in one last Montana experience.

All who died in the crash were in their 20s.

Tom Little, an air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, said Thursday that he completed his preliminary investigation report and had submitted it Wednesday.

Early inspections showed no apparent mechanical problems with the airplane, according to reports.

Little was on vacation Thursday and did not have immediate access to the document, which must pass through the Seattle regional office and Washington, D.C., headquarters before being released.

The preliminary report had not been posted by the end of the day Thursday. It is expected to be available today.