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Sen. Inhofe’s son reported engine trouble before deadly plane crash

OWASSO, Okla. — The son of Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe reported his small plane was experiencing engine trouble shortly before he died in a crash near Tulsa.

That’s according to a preliminary report released Monday by the National Transportation Safety Board. Dr. Perry Inhofe was the only person aboard the twin-engine plane when it crashed Nov. 10 near Owasso.

The NTSB report says Inhofe took an unexpected turn and told air traffic control that he had “a control problem,” then reported that his left engine had shut down. It was the last communication between the pilot and controllers.

Witnesses told investigators that one engine propeller appeared to not be rotating shortly before the crash.

Jim Inhofe returned to the Senate floor Monday and thanked Senate leaders for their condolences.