Bad Fuel Blamed For Md. Plane Crash That Killed 2
TANEYTOWN, Md. (AP) -- Federal investigators say fuel contamination probably caused a small airplane crash that killed two people near Taneytown in August 2009.
The National Transportation Safety Board released the findings Friday night.
Investigators say the experimental T-Bird II built by pilot Robert Kociemba of Davidsonville was fueled by a gasoline-ethanol blend.
Federal regulations prohibit gasahol for aviation, partly because climbing can cause it to separate into a solution containing water. Water and small particles killed the engine.
Investigators say an over-the-counter antihistamine may have impaired Kociemba's ability to respond when the engine failed. He died in the crash, along with passenger Letty Williams of Edgewater.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
