NTSB releases preliminary report after crash that killed aerobatic pilot from New Hampshire A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board released on Friday outlines new details in the plane crash that killed an aerobatic pilot from New Hampshire.Rob Holland was an award-winning aerobatic pilot, who died when the plane he was in crashed in Virginia on April 24.According to NTSB's preliminary report, a component of the aircraft, known as the "the left elevator counterweight plug," was not installed.That component was found about 10 feet from the wreckage, according to the preliminary report. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<Aviation expert Tom Kinton said that aluminum plug is crucial in helping a pilot control an aircraft. "That's what controls the pitch of the airplane, which controls the nose.

How high up the nose goes or how low the nose goes is a very critical component of controlling an aircraft. Without it, you can't control the airplane," he said. "So, it appears something dramatically went wrong with that elevator.

And they found pieces of it, which is going to lead to the investigation to see if it was a result of sloppy maintenance fatigue on the aircraft that just wore out and fell off. "The preliminary report also said Holland collaborated with the manufacturer to modify the airplane to his specifications.>> Subscribe to WMUR's YouTube channel <<NTSB's preliminary report does not outline a probable cause of the crash, which is still under investigation. The agency's final report is expected to be published in 2026 or early 2027.

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board released on Friday outlines new details in the plane crash that killed an aerobatic pilot from New Hampshire. Rob Holland was an award-winning aerobatic pilot, who died when the plane he was in crashed in Virginia on April 24. Advertisement According to NTSB's preliminary report, a component of the aircraft, known as the "the left elevator counterweight plug," was not installed.

That component was found about 10 feet from the wreckage, according to the preliminary report. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play << Aviation expert Tom Kinton said that aluminum plug is crucial in helping a pilot control an aircraft. "That's what controls the pitch of the airplane, which controls the nose.

How high up the nose goes or how low the nose goes is a very critical component of controlling an aircraft. Without it, you can't control the airplane," he said. "So, it appears something dramatically went wrong with that elevator.

And they found pieces of it, which is going to lead to the investigation to see if it was a result of sloppy maintenance fatigue on the aircraft that just wore out and fell off." The preliminary report also said Holland collaborated with the manufacturer to modify the airplane to his specifications. >> Subscribe to WMUR's YouTube channel << NTSB's preliminary report does not outline a probable cause of the crash, which is still under investigation.

The agency's final report is expected to be published in 2026 or early 2027.