CHADRON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say they’ve found no engine problems so far that would have caused a Nebraska Panhandle plane crash that killed its Texas pilot.

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board says it’s found no evidence of engine malfunction or failure. The single-engine Beechcraft P35 Bonanza went down on Oct. 6, killing 61-year-old John Prickett, of Double Oak, Texas. It crashed 10 miles south of Chadron Municipal Airport, a few minutes after takeoff on a flight to Alliance.

Safety board spokesman Keith Holloway says a final crash report normally takes a year or more to complete.