Crew faulted in crash of plane due to fly Bush Sr

WASHINGTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) US safety investigators blamed crew error for the deadly crash of a corporate jet two years ago in Texas that was heading to pick up former President George H W Bush when it went down.

The National Transportation Safety Board yesterday said in its final report on the November 2004 crash near Houston's Hobby airport that the crew of the Gulfstream G-1159 failed to properly monitor its flight instruments and follow proper procedures during its landing approach.

The two pilots and a flight attendant, the only three people aboard the aircraft, were killed when the jet struck a light pole and crashed short of the airport in fog.

The plane was heading from Dallas to Houston to pick up the father of current President George W Bush for a flight to Ecuador.

REUTERS DKS PM0505