http://www.boston.com/dailynews/014/nation/Investigators_rule_out_mechani:.shtml

Investigators rule out mechanical problems in Tampa plane crash

By Associated Press, 1/14/2002 18:34

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) The National Transportation Safety Board ruled out mechanical failure Monday in the crash of a small plane into a Tampa skyscraper, but still isn't calling the crash deliberate.

NTSB investigator Butch Wilson said any conclusion that 15-year-old pilot Charles Bishop intentionally hit the Bank of America Plaza awaits further investigation, though a suicide note praising Osama bin Laden and the Sept. 11 attacks was found in the boy's pocket.

Wilson said no failures were found in the engine or the airframe that might have contributed to the crash. Witnesses also said Bishop seemed to have control of the plane.

Bishop took the plane without authorization from a Clearwater flight school where he was taking lessons without permission. He crashed it into the 28th floor of the building at 110 mph to 120 mph, Wilson said.

No one in the building was injured, but Bishop was killed.

The 2000 Cessna 172R caused minimal damage to the building. Wilson said at about 2,500 pounds, the plane weighed less than most cars.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

Answers

Bishop took the plane without authorization from a Clearwater flight school where he was taking lessons without permission.

He did have permission to take flight lessons. He was paying for them by washing the planes along with other chores and his mother was the one who dropped him off for the lesson that day.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

I think that was an editing error, where the editor forgot to remove the ofending words.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002