Commuter Plane Crash @ Charlotte NC Airport (BREAKING)

www.msnbc.com ^ | 8 Jan 03 | MSNBC

[TankerKC]

Breaking news. Charlotte to Greenville flight--19 on board. Crashed on takeoff into a US Airways hangar.

More to follow...

[Diverdogz]

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (CNN) -- An Air Midwest commuter plane with 19 people on board crashed on takeoff into a hangar Wednesday at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.

Plumes of gray smoke could be seen rising from a hangar.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane was Air Midwest Flight 5481 and was on its way to the Greenville-Spartanburg Jetport in South Carolina.

There was no immediate word on injuries or deaths.

The plane struck the side of the hangar.

A wall of the hangar was covered with black smoke.

The FAA said the aircraft is a Beech 1900, a turboprop aircraft. The airlines' Web site says it operates as US Airways Express.

The crash comes after a year in which there were no commercial airline fatalities in the United States, federal officials said.

[wimpycat]

For people too lazy to click on your link:


A small commuter plane has crashed into a US Airways hangar at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.


It was an Air Midwest plane, flight 5481, according to MSNBC. It was reportedly heading to Lynchburg, Va. with 19 passengers and two crew members aboard.


Air Midwest operates as US Airways Express.

According to a TV station, WBTV, initial reports are that 19 people were hurt when the plane hit a hangar.

Another TV station, WCNC, is quoting a witness as saying the plane came down on its back.

The crash happened as the plane was taking off.

The airport has scheduled a news conference at the top of the hour to discuss the incident.

[Constitution Day]

Thanks. I was also looking at WSOC in Charlotte.

[hellinahandcart]

Surprisingly they are talking about injuries, not deaths.

Eyewitness reported to have said plane came in on its back?

[MindBender26]

NO reason to suspect terrorism. A/C crashed before 9/11 too. A/C here is (ugly) growth version of Beech KingAir. A bit of a handful if you lose one engine. Weather was good, but cold overnight. Hope pilots didn't forget to clear frost off wings, tail surfaces.

Wait for details.

[Diverdogz]

CNN says it was headed to Greenville, the other story says Lynchburg. Which is it I wonder?

[Constitution Day]

Link from WSOC-9 in Charlotte:

BREAKING NEWS-Commuter Plane Crash

CHARLOTTTE, Jan. 8--US Airways has confirmed that flight 5481 has crashed on take-off from Charlotte-Douglas Airport.

There were 19 people and 2 crew members on board the US Airways Express commuter plane.

Eyewitnesses say the plane flipped during take-off.

No word yet from MEDIC on the condition of the people on board.

Then it nose-dived into the US Airways Hangar near the runway.

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for continuing coverage of this Breaking News Event.

Source:Channel 9, Eyewitness News

[Aegedius]

Flight 5481 is from CLT to GSP (Greenville/Spartanburg SC) departure time 8:30 am.

[dalereed]

On airplane crashes Fox is getting as bad as ABCCBSNBC, the guy reporting is doing some of the worst reporting and uneducated speculation i've ever witnessed.

If it occured on takeoff and went into the hanger on it's back it apparently lost an engine on takeoff and the pilot failed to take corrective action that must be done immediatly.

[Archangelsk]

Anyone in NC know whether there was heavy frost this morning?

[Constitution Day]

I don't know about the western side of the state, but here in eastern NC there was no frost (at least at my house).

CD

[MindBender26]

"Eyewitnesses say the plane flipped during take-off.

Then it nose-dived into the US Airways Hangar near the runway. "

Sounding a lot like a very typical "Lose engine-Stall-Spin-Crash-Burn" accident.

Aircraft like this are very marginal on one engine. In many twin engine aircraft, if you lose one engine at critical moments of takeoff, best plan in to chop the other one and land straight ahead (in trees if needed), right side up, and slow, rather than trying to go around on one engine, getting below critical single engine speed and getting into a stall-spin, crash upside down and fast accident.

[Constitution Day]

Thanks for the info.

[mountaineer]

From CBS:
Jan 8, 2003 8:23 am US/Central
(CBS) (CHARLOTTE, N.C.) A small plane has crashed into an airport hangar in Charlotte, North Carolina.

At least some of the 21 people on board were hurt, no word yet on fatalities. The plane had 19 passengers and a crew of 2.

Broadcast reports say it was Air Midwest flight 5481 operatings as US Airways Express.

The plane crashed into a US Airways hangar at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. It crashed as it was taking off about 8:45 a.m.

The airport has scheduled a news conference at the top of the hour to discuss the incident.
http://wcco.com/topstories/topstories_story_008092646.html

[Archangelsk]

If it occured on takeoff and went into the hanger on it's back it apparently lost an engine on takeoff and the pilot failed to take corrective action that must be done immediatly.

Or there could have been frost on the wings which would increase stall speed and if the airplane was uncoordinated it could have gone into a spin. Losing an engine is plausible and the pilot would have to immediately go Vmc, but let's let NTSB do their job before we jump to any conclusions.

[commish]

Another TV station, WCNC, is quoting a witness as saying the plane came down on its back.

This would seem to indicate loss of an engine on takeoff. I don;t know how much torque the engines on the Beech produce, but I witnessed the same thing at Beale AFB, CA involving a KC-135 (707)

Crew was doing touch an go's and somehow smacked the left wing into the runway. The impact crushed the left out board engine, and as the pilot tried to climb out the left inboard ingested all the crap stirred up. The plane then was left with no Left side power and 2 right side engines at full thrust for climb - bam right over on it's back and nose first into the ground.

[McGruff]

Here's some weather data

CURRENT CONDITIONS WRAL-TV Studios Raleigh, NC
Wednesday, January 08, 2003 Updated: 9:31 AM EST
Current Temp: 42.30º F
High Today: 42.30º F
Low Today: 39.40º F
Rainfall Today: .00"
Wind: South at 3.00 MPH
Humidity: 38.00%

Raleigh-Durham Airport, NC
Wednesday, January 08, 2003 Updated: 9:00 AM EST
Cloudy
Current Temp: 40º F
Wind: southwest at 8 MPH
Humidity: 41%
Dewpoint: 18 º F
Barometer: 29.72"and rising

Doesn't appear to be cold enough for frost.

[Quilla]

I saying prayers for you.

[zarf]

Jerry Falwell drinks Jack...right?

[concerned about politics]

All 21 on board were killed. It did land on it's back.