Plane Crash Report Released

     SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Federal investigators say a pilot and
three passengers who took off from Sioux Falls apparently tried to
return to the airport after an air traffic controller noticed a
plume of smoke coming from the plane that later crashed, killing
all four people aboard.
     A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report
released Monday recounts details moments before the Dec. 9 crash
that officials had not earlier released.
     The report says the controller informed the pilot about the
smoke plume about 30 seconds after takeoff, though he could not
determine where it was coming from. The controller then advised the
pilot that the smoke had stopped and cleared the plane to land. No
communications were received from the pilot after he acknowledged
the takeoff clearance.
     The report makes no recommendations or conclusions.