Sen. Inhofe's son reported engine trouble before fatal crash

Dr. Perry Inhofe, the son of Sen. Jim Inhofe, reported his small plane was experiencing engine trouble shortlybefore the plane crashed, killing the younger Inhofe.

A preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board says Inhofe took an unexpected turn and told air traffic control that he had "a control problem."

Inhofe 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.

Long-time MU-2 commercial pilot and owner Earle Martin says he is deeply saddened by Perry Inhofe's death, as is all of the Mitsubishi MU-2 aviation community. Martin is angered, however, about false claims that the MU-2 is not a safe aircraft when flown according to regulations and proper training.

Martin says the aircraft actually has the best safety statistics and fewest fatal accidents in its class in the US since 2008, according to public government records, and says that the aircraft handles exceptionally well, even with only one of it's two engines operating.