WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on a plane crash that took the lives of a Chico businessman and his wife in August.

The crash occurred on August 27, 2025, when a Cessna 340A was substantially damaged near Kearney, Missouri. Action News Now learned from Spelts Wealth Management that the company's founder, Mark Spelts, and his wife, Vickie Spelts, were on the plane and were traveling to visit clients.

According to ADS-B data, the plane departed from Washington Regional Airport in Missouri and was en route to Midwest National Air Center Airport. The aircraft descended and entered the traffic pattern about 25 miles from the airport, flying at a lower altitude than usual.

According to the NTSB, a witness reported the airplane was f

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