Confirmed: Aaliyah plane too heavy

Aaliyah's funeral took place in New York

A preliminary report into the plane crash that killed singer Aaliyah and eight others has confirmed that the aircraft was too heavy.

The total weight of the plane at take-off "substantially exceeded" its limit, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said.

The Cessna crashed seconds after take-off

The plane's manufacturers have previously said too many people were on board, and it has been revealed that the pilot was not licensed to fly it and had been in court on drugs offences.

The NTSB have not said when the final report will be published.

"It's a Bahamian accident and we have to publish what they approve us to publish," said Jorge Prellezo, South East regional director.

Investigators, who say the complete maintenance history of the plane is unknown, are still waiting to receive technical records from the plane's owner.

The plane's centre of gravity was located toward the back, according to the report, but no mechanical problems were found in the engines or airframe.

Stars paid tribute at recent MTV Video Awards

The plane crashed at the side of the runway after coming down shortly after takeoff, the report said.

The Cessna 402B is only licensed to carry between six and eight people including the pilot, the Cessna Aircraft Company has said.

The Civil Aviation Department has put the weight at take-off at 5,495lbs, excluding the nine passengers.

John Frank, an independent expert from the Cessna Pilots Association, said the maximum weight for the model was 6,300lbs, including people.

He added that the plane, seats, fuel and luggage weight combined would leave around 800lbs for the weight of the passengers.

Fans have held vigils for the singer and actress

The plane was not registered to operate commercial charter flights in the Bahamas, a Bahamian investigator has said.

And pilot Luis Antonio Morales Blanes, 30, had not been authorised to fly the Cessna aircraft for its owners, Blackhawk International Airways.

It has emerged that he pleaded "no contest" to cocaine possession and other crimes just 12 days before the crash.

He had also been charged with possession of cocaine, dealing in stolen property, theft and driving with a suspended licence, said authorities in Florida.

The R&B star and her entourage died on leaving Marsh Harbour airport after filming a music video in the Bahamas.

Aaliyah's album sales have soared

Her latest album has risen from number 19 to number one in the American chart in the last week.

Around 1,200 people were present at a private funeral for the singer and actress in New York last week.

Born in 1979 in New York, Aaliyah Haughton was raised in Detroit.

She began performing at age 11 when she sang with Gladys Knight, and her first album Age Ain't Nothing But A Number came out when she was 15 - and sold millions.

Aaliyah's song Try Again earned her a Grammy nomination for best female R&B vocalist, and last year she made her film acting debut in Romeo Must Die.