PORT ANGELES — The investigation into the cause of Thursday’s crash and death of veteran Port Angeles firefighter Patrick W. “Pat” Rose indicates that a mechanical malfunction brought down the lightweight plane that Rose was test piloting.
But Police Chief Tom Riepe cautioned on Friday that the investigation is not complete.
He also said that the department’s investigators are not airplane experts and that the craft was severely damaged.
“We don’t want to speculate,” Riepe said.
“It just really points to a mechanical problem.”
Rose, 52, was the only occupant of the Mini-Max 1100 ultralight plane when it crashed into an empty hangar at William R. Fairchild Fairchild International Airport at about 11:45 a.m. Thursday.
Rose was declared dead at the scene.
Detective Sgt. Steve Coyle, who is heading the investigation, has been consulting with Rose’s airplane enthusiast friends and others who are familiar with the ultralight airplanes, Riepe said.
The plane’s owner, Glen Shaw of Sequim, and other witnesses said that Rose conducted an inspection of the craft prior to take off.
Riepe said the department’s investigation will likely be complete this week.
The results will be turned over to Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deborah Kelly, who is also the county coroner.
The notes and reports from the investigation will be made public, Riepe said.
Pathologist Daniel Selove performed an autopsy Friday, Kelly said. As coroner, Kelly is charged with determining the cause of death.
