Officials: Plane Had Fuel Tank Issues Before 2017 Fatal Crash In Methuen

The National Transportation Safety Board says a plane that crashed into an apartment building in Massachusetts, killing a former mayor who was operating it, had fuel tank issues months before the fatal crash.

The Eagle-Tribune reports that investigators did not say exactly what caused the February 2017 crash in Methuen.

But in a recent report said whatever did happen, happened shortly after takeoff.

Alan Lavender died when the plane crashed into the building on approach to Lawrence Municipal Airport.

The 73-year-old Lavender was a former city councilor and mayor of Newburyport. No residents were injured.

NTSB investigators say Lavender wrote in an email three days before his death that he had the plane's fuel tank fixed.

Lavender said in the email he planned to do "touch-and-goes" to ensure everything was working correctly.