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Commuter Plane Crash @ Charlotte NC Airport (BREAKING)
www.msnbc.com ^ | 8 Jan 03 | MSNBC

Posted on 01/08/2003 6:11:25 AM PST by TankerKC

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

More to follow...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: northcarolina; oldnorthstate; unhelpful
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To: mbynack
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.
21 posted on 01/08/2003 6:32:36 AM PST by Diverdogz
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To: Constitution Day
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.

22 posted on 01/08/2003 6:33:17 AM PST by wimpycat (Nothin' could be finer than to be in Caroliner....)
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To: wimpycat
Thanks. I was also looking at WSOC in Charlotte.
23 posted on 01/08/2003 6:34:10 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: concerned about politics
Surprisingly they are talking about injuries, not deaths.

Eyewitness reported to have said plane came in on its back?
24 posted on 01/08/2003 6:34:36 AM PST by hellinahandcart
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To: leadpenny
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.
25 posted on 01/08/2003 6:35:08 AM PST by MindBender26
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To: wimpycat
CNN says it was headed to Greenville, the other story says Lynchburg. Which is it I wonder?
26 posted on 01/08/2003 6:35:34 AM PST by Diverdogz
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To: TankerKC
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

27 posted on 01/08/2003 6:35:49 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: Constitution Day
Flight 5481 is from CLT to GSP (Greenville/Spartanburg SC) departure time 8:30 am.
28 posted on 01/08/2003 6:37:43 AM PST by Aegedius
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To: wimpycat
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.
29 posted on 01/08/2003 6:40:04 AM PST by dalereed
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To: TankerKC
Anyone in NC know whether there was heavy frost this morning?
30 posted on 01/08/2003 6:40:22 AM PST by Archangelsk
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To: Archangelsk
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

31 posted on 01/08/2003 6:42:55 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: Constitution Day
"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.
32 posted on 01/08/2003 6:43:13 AM PST by MindBender26
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To: Aegedius
Thanks for the info.
33 posted on 01/08/2003 6:44:52 AM PST by Constitution Day
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To: Aegedius
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
34 posted on 01/08/2003 6:44:59 AM PST by mountaineer
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To: dalereed
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.

35 posted on 01/08/2003 6:44:59 AM PST by Archangelsk
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To: wimpycat
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.

36 posted on 01/08/2003 6:45:18 AM PST by commish
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To: Archangelsk
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.
37 posted on 01/08/2003 6:48:49 AM PST by McGruff
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To: mbynack
I saying prayers for you.
38 posted on 01/08/2003 6:49:32 AM PST by Quilla
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To: Glenn
Jerry Falwell drinks Jack...right?
39 posted on 01/08/2003 6:49:55 AM PST by zarf (I'm a peas activist.)
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To: TankerKC
All 21 on board were killed. It did land on it's back.
40 posted on 01/08/2003 6:49:59 AM PST by concerned about politics
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