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The preliminary findings from the National Transportation
Safety Board confirm Ford's own radio transmissions reporting an
engine failure to the control tower at the Santa Monica Airport
last Thursday as he brought the plane down on the eighth fairway
at the golf course.
Ford, 72, known for playing the iconic characters Indiana Jones
in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and its sequels and Han Solo in the
"Star Wars" franchise, was seriously injured in the crash of the
1942 single-engine Ryan Aeronautical ST-3KR plane, which is also
known as a PT-22 Recruit.
The crash, which occurred a short distance from houses, follows
years of complaints by residents in the heavily populated
beachside community that the airport interferes with their
quality of life.
The National Transportation Safety Board's report released on
Tuesday said Ford's plane "sustained substantial damage
following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing
after take-off from the Santa Monica Municipal Airport."
Ford made a left turn back to the airport when he lost power and
on his descent the aircraft struck the top of a tree and crashed
onto the golf course, about 800 feet (244 meters) southwest of
the approach end of a runway, the report said.
The report does not name Ford as the pilot and sole occupant of
the plane but his spokeswoman has confirmed it was him.
The NTSB is continuing its investigation of the crash following
its initial findings released on Tuesday.
Ford was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in fair to
moderate condition. He was still in the hospital on Monday,
according to a report from ABC News. A spokeswoman for the actor
declined to comment on Monday and she could not immediately be
reached on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Bill Trott)
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