Investigators: Fatal Colorado Plane Crash Left Crater

Investigators say the fatal crash of a small plane in northern Colorado left a 2-foot-deep crater.

The National Transportation Safety Board says the single-engine airplane was found upside down about eight feet from the crater after the May 22 crash. A fire scorched the debris.

The crash killed the pilot, 64-year-old Ib Christian Hansen of Arvada. He was the only person on board.

A preliminary NTSB report released this month says the plane took off from Erie Municipal Airport, climbed to about 300 feet and suddenly turned left turn before diving to the ground.

The report doesn’t speculate on the cause.

The NTSB says Hansen built the plane and was taking it on its first flight when it crashed. Authorities have said his son was watching from the ground.