Report Blames Pilot for Deadly Arkansas Plane Crash

Federal officials say the pilot of a small business jet that crashed in central Arkansas more than two years ago, killing two people, failed to fly a stabilized approach and delayed his decision to abort the landing.

The June 30, 2007, crash killed 71-year-old pilot Hugh Rains of Wichita Falls, Texas, and 71-year-old Janet Brady of Conway, Arkansas.

The plane failed to stop on the wet runway at the airport in Conway and crashed into Brady’s home, then exploded. Two other people were injured.

An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board found that Rains was flying the Cessna Citation too fast on his final approach to the runway and probably should’ve aborted the landing earlier.

The NTSB report issued Thursday says standing water on the runway also contributed to the crash.