A preliminary report on the June 19th crash of a small plane in southern Washington County indicates automotive fuel may have been used in the plane's engine.

Pastor Jim Luther was seriously injured when his small plane's engine lost power and then crashed near the Crystal Lake Air Park.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report says Luther had made two or three takeoffs from the air park when the crash occurred. Witnesses say the planes engine lost power and the pilot tried a forced landing.

The Luscombe 8 aircraft's landing gear hit the ground, the plane bounced and flipped over, crushing its fuselage. The N-T-S-B report says the plane’s gas cap was found on the ground under the left wing, and there was a "light odor of automotive gasoline" at the site.

Aviation gas, with a minimum of 73 octane is recommended for the plane's Teledyne Continental A65 engine. Use of automotive fuel can cause damage to the engines valves.

It’s expected to be several months before the N-T-S-B issues its probable cause for the crash.