BIRMINGHAM, ALA., JULY 11 -- The crew of a commuter plane fought to control the aircraft in a turbulent thunderstorm moments before it crashed, killing 13 people, officials said tonight.
Francis Fernandes, the L'Express pilot at the controls of Flight 508, said the plane experienced a "significant roll to the left" on landing approach, said Susan Coughlin, National Transportation Safety Board vice chairwoman.
Fernandes told investigators that while he and the copilot tried to level the aircraft, it experienced an "extreme updraft" that pushed the plane's nose into the air, Coughlin said.
"Both of them struggled to control the aircraft and were unsuccessful," she said.
Bad weather had caused another plane to twice cut off its attempts to land at Birmingham's Municipal Airport, Coughlin said. "Their reason, obviously, for the go-around was the weather they were encountering," she said.
Investigators found no indication of mechanical problems with the Beechcraft C-99 twin-engine turboprop.
Investigators said they had not interviewed Mabry Rogers, 43, of Mountain Brook, Ala., who was the only passenger to survive the crash.
The flight carrying 15 people hit two homes during pounding rain and lightning Wednesday evening, catching fire on impact.
The sound of breaking glass drew Carolyn McCreary away from her television and into the kitchen. There, she found a man in a business suit with his head afire, yelling: "Get out! There's been a plane crash!"
McCreary helped smother flames on the man's head before fleeing the burning house. Her aunt and uncle also escaped. They and a fourth person on the ground were treated for minor injuries.
Officials said the man in McCreary's house probably was Rogers since only he and Fernandes, 54, of Niceville, Fla., survived the crash.
The flight from New Orleans had made a stopover in Mobile, where 12 of the 13 passengers boarded.
In addition to the two houses hit, 13 were damaged by fire and debris.
The craft's cockpit voice recorder was found this morning, but no details of its contents were released.
