The Air Accident Investigation Unit expects to have a preliminary report within 30 days into Thursday's Cessna plane crash in south Connemara, which claimed two lives and injured seven others on board.
The Cessna Grand Caravan's pilot, Matt Masterson (59), from Terenure, Dublin, died in the crash along with Paul McNamee (57), an accountant from Loughrea, Co Galway.
Three of the nine on board are still described as in a serious condition at University College Hospital, Galway (UCHG), and four are stable.
The air accident investigators carried out a detailed study of the wreckage and its location close to Aerfort na Minna at Indreabhán, Co Galway, yesterday. The site was also visited by the family of the pilot, who lost his life when the plane hit gorse and scrubland close to the runway.
Plans were under way last night to remove the wreckage under Garda escort to Gormanston, Co Meath, where tests will be conducted at the direction of senior investigator Jurgen Whyte.
The airport, which serves the Aran Islands, was open for flights as normal.
Mr Masterson formerly worked with a number of companies including CityJet and has been described as a very experienced pilot. He is survived by his partner, Geraldine Coburn, and two sons and two daughters.
Mr McNamee is survived by his wife, Kitty, a son and a daughter, and was well known in GAA circles. His accountancy firm, Gorman, McNamee & Associates, was appointed auditors to the Galway GAA county board. He owned a family pub in Loughrea and was involved in a number of organisations in the east Galway community.
The air accident investigators said it was far too early to speculate on what might have occurred at about 2.45pm on Thursday, when the plane failed to land on the runway on returning from Inis Meáin. It had left Weston airport in Co Kildare earlier on Thursday.
Also on board were Clifden hoteliers Brian Hughes, Kevin Barry and his son Kevin jnr, David Hennessy from Oranmore, who is operations director with the Sweeney Hotel Group, Loughrea businessman Eugene Houlihan, Clifden developer Martin Acton and Alan Smith from Swords in Dublin.
It is understood that some of the group were considering purchasing a plane similar to the Cessna Grand Caravan for a possible charter flight business. The group recently concluded a deal with Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Eamon Ó Cuív in relation to the State purchase of the airstrip at Cleggan, designed to serve Inishbofin.
Galway county councillor Josie Conneely (FF) said that he was due to take the flight, but had a holiday booked abroad.
Speaking from Portugal yesterday, he said that the four people on board from the Clifden area had employed many people in the hotel and construction industry.
"They all worked very hard to get an airstrip for Clifden," he said.
"I myself was meant to be on the flight, and I am shocked to learn of this tragedy. My sympathies are with the families of the victims, and I hope the injured make a speedy recovery," he said.
