Report: Jet hit unlisted pole at Georgia airport before crash; killed surgeon, 4 colleagues

A federal report says a private plane hit an unlisted utility pole at an airport, then crashed last year, killing a Georgia vascular surgeon and four of his colleagues.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators say Georgia Power built the pole in 1989 but didn't notify federal aviation officials. It says the obstruction at the Thomson-McDuffie County Airport near Augusta wasn't listed on aeronautical charts.

The jet was carrying Vein Guys medical practice employees the night of Feb. 20, 2013.

The report says Georgia Department of Transportation inspections in 2010 and 2012 found that the airport met minimum state safety requirements, but didn't meet federal precision and visual approach requirements. Airport officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

The NTSB plans to release a probable cause report on the crash later.