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NTSB Releases Preliminary Report On Gaithersburg Plane Crash

GAITHERSBURG (WJZ) -- A tragic plane crash took the lives of six people, including a mother and her two young children in Gaithersburg. Now federal officials have released a preliminary report on the crash and experts say it could have an impact nationally on early warning systems in planes.

Meghan McCorkell has more on the report.

The NTSB has released preliminary findings but it could be months before we get an official cause.

Horrifying home video shows the moments after a corporate jet crashed into a Gaithersburg home. Marie Gemmell and her two young sons died inside the house, along with three people on board the plane.

"We want to make sure something like this never happens again. That's why we are here," said NTSB investigator Robert Sumwalt.

Now the National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report on the crash near the Montgomery County Airpark. Witnesses say the plane was visibly in distress.

"You could tell there was something wrong with this plane," one said. "His flying was very erratic; a lot of up and down, left to right."

Twenty seconds before the crash, investigators say the pilot heard a stall warning, indicating the plane was flying too slowly---but it was too late to fix.

"He came in very slow, as low as about 100 miles an hour, which will not sustain to an engine jet," said aviation attorney Keith Franz.

Aviation experts believe this crash will be the tipping point for the FAA to pass federal regulations on stall warning systems. Franz has worked several high profile plane crash cases. He says stalling is the most common pilot error in crashes and changes need to be made to make it easier for pilots to correct the problem before a crash.

"The hope is there is going to be new standards which will provide an earlier warning system, so pilots have an adequate time to respond," Franz said.

Time that could prevent another tragedy like this.

it usually takes about a year for the NTSB to issue a final report. Franz believes the report on this crash will come out sooner.

A fundraising website for the Gemmell family has raised nearly $500,000. Click here to donate.

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