The preliminary investigation into a plane crash in which 2 men died in Co. Offaly last month has determined the aircraft had no technical defects.
Flying instructor Niall Doherty from Roscrea and trainee pilot Damien Deegan from Crinkle were killed when the Cessna light aircraft came down near Birr airfield on November 12th.
The Air Accident Investigations Unit (AAIU) has found evidence that the propeller was not rotating at the time of impact and there was no substantial fuel deposit at the crash site.
Nose-down impact
The report says examination of the crash site showed that the aircraft initially "impacted heavily with a nose-down attitude".
It believes the nose landing gear detached and the aircraft came to rest inverted a short distance from the point of initial impact.
The fuselage was fractured behind the cabin, only remaining attached by cables.
The document says several fractures were found in the engine bearer arm structure and one blade of the propeller which was bent backwards.
The investigation will now focus on how much fuel was on-board the aircraft.
The AAIU says a final report will be published in due course.
