NASHVILLE, TENN. — A prominent aviation attorney is calling on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to scrutinize maintenance records after a deadly small-plane crash in Battle Ground, Washington — a case the NTSB has so far been unable to explain.

The crash, which killed the lone pilot on board a Cessna Skyhawk on September 26, has drawn national attention after the NTSB’s preliminary report listed the cause as “unknown.” But attorney Keith Williams, who has represented victims in dozens of high-profile aviation cases, says that’s not good enough.

“When a plane goes down without an immediate explanation, the first place investigators should look is the maintenance history,” said Williams, founder of the Keith Williams Law Group. “If there were no mechanical red flags, then communication logs between the pilot and tower should be reviewed. Right now, there are too many unanswered questions — and the public deserves answers.”

The Cessna had departed from Kelso, Washington, and was approaching Goheen Airport in Battle Ground when it lost control and crashed into a wooded area just west of the runway around 1:06 p.m. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the pilot was killed on impact.

Williams says it’s critical for the NTSB to take a more aggressive approach — both to bring closure to the victim’s family and to ensure public safety moving forward.

“This isn’t just about one crash. It’s about accountability and prevention,” Williams added.

In addition to his practice, Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.