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Five Killed in Georgia Premier Crash

By Stephen Pope / Published: Feb 22, 2013
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The NTSB is investigating the crash of a Beech Premier IA on Wednesday night as the pilot was attempting a go-around at Thomson-McDuffie Regional Airport (KHQU) near Augusta, Georgia. Five people died in the crash shortly after 8 p.m. and two others were taken to a hospital, according to officials.
 
NTSB board member Robert Sumwalt said the light business jet was on approach to KHQU’s Runway 10 when the pilot elected to abort the landing. During the go-around, the Premier struck the top of a 60-foot concrete utility pole about a quarter mile from the end of the runway. The left wing was sheared off and a fuel leak caused a fire, but the airplane was able to continue flying for another quarter mile before crashing in a wooded area.
 
The NTSB has dispatched a “Go Team” to the crash site. The jet, which was owned by a large Southern medical practice, had taken off from Nashville. According to the NTSB, a pilot and a passenger were taken to a local hospital. 

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bobalph's picture

Doesn't 1/4 mile (1300') seem a bit too close for a 60' pole?
I do not see it marked on the chart or in the runway information, so, maybe the report is incorrect?

gbigs's picture

Another reason small jets are a bad idea, the lag in thrust. Prop engines respond right away and can climb quicker when needed. Jets have a lag in their thrust component, no doubt this guy forgot that - and apparently didnt get the climb needed to clear the obstacle on the touch and go.

elmog's picture

I used to fixate on the KFI antennae at Fullerton Airport and someone finally flew into it. If there's an object like that around an airport pattern, someone some day is going to run into it, simple as that.

burtob79's picture

My hunch is the pilot may have been too fast on the approach, and upon realizing he was not going to have enough runway to stop, elected to go around with unfortunate results. A stabilized approach is much more critical in a jet than a single engine prop, especially the speed on final. Gbigs is right about the lag in thrust with light jets. The first time I flew a CRJ200 sim, it was a big surprise on the thrust lag after only previously flying props.

n7mk's picture

I'm impressed the plane stayed flying for 1/4 mile after shearing a wing off.

Raffles's picture

A tragic accident. RIP to the victims. Since the pilot survived there should be more information available from his account of what happened, since the plane probably doesn't have a FDR or CVR.

starmarine05's picture

1/4 mile past the end of the runway and he is at less than 60' agl? ...Thrust lag or not, his problems started long before he made contact with the structure... Many prayers to the families who lost their loved ones.

femanvate's picture

I have to agree with starmarine05 that the problems started way before the plane hit the pole. The only way a healthy jet would still be that low was if the pilot aborted well into the landing rollout, became airborne behind the power curve where the angle of attack was so high that drag exceeded available power. This can happen to any business jet, or airliner for that matter.
I say this from a couch hundreds of miles away, so yes, I may be wrong. Let's see what the NTSB finds out.

Everest13's picture

From the video I saw it looked like the utility pole was behind the Milliken manufacturing facility across the 4 lane state highway nearest to the woods which is a little further than 1/4 mile away. I personally do not remember seeing any poles that tall when driving by except the 50'+ flag pole at the entrance to the plant closest to the runway-which makes me wonder if that is what they are referring to. The crash actually knocked out power in town about 4 miles away disrupting the local high school's playoff basketball game. From the news update on Sunday both crew members survived while the other five casualties were from the Vein Guys medical clinic in Augusta GA.

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