NTSB investigates WWII aircraft that crashed with 13 people on board

The National Transportation Safety Board spent Sunday investigating the crash site of a Douglas C-47 cargo plane. The aircraft can be seen catching fire shortly after take-off on the Burnet Municipal Airport runway Saturday.

13 members of the Highland Lakes Squadron, a branch of the Commemorative Air Force, were on their way to an airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. When the plane caught fire several people were injured and one man sent a burn unit in San Antonio.

Read Plane crashes at Burnet Municipal Airport

The plane is named “Bluebonnett Belle” and was made in 1944. The WWII aircraft was used as a cargo plane to transport servicemen in Europe. It has since been restored and maintained by CAF.

She was also used in recovery relief efforts during Hurricane Harvey.

NTSB Senior Aviation Accident Investigator Joshua D. Cawthra said he performed an initial onsite investigation. Reviewing and documenting what he sees on site before a recovery team removes the aircraft for further examination. He said they investigate several phases man, machine and environment.

They’ll review “Belle’s” maintenance history and the pilot’s who was manning the aircraft at the time. The investigation will take anywhere from six-months to two years. Cawthra also conducted interviews of those on board and witnesses.

The Burnet Municipal Airport is back open but the tax-way portion where the plane veered off to will need to be repaired. The FAA is also assisting in the investigation.