Pilot Error Blamed in Fatal Connecticut Plane Crash

Federal investigators say pilot error in windy conditions caused a plane to crash into two Connecticut houses last year, killing four people.

The National Transportation Safety Board report last month says former Microsoft executive Bill Henningsgaard, of Medina, Washington, caused the 10-seat plane to stall and crash in August 2013 when he failed to maintain airspeed while banking “aggressively” in gusty tail wind conditions.

The aircraft flipped upside down and crashed into two houses in East Haven during a landing attempt.

The crash killed Henningsgaard; his 13-year-old son, Maxwell; and two children in one of the homes – 13-year-old Sade Brantley and her 1-year-old sister, Madisyn Mitchell.

Authorities said Henningsgaard was flying from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey to Tweed New Haven Airport.