At 1526 Eastern time, a Smith Aerostar 601P crashed during its initial climb after takeoff from the Charleston Executive Airport, Johns Island, S.C. The commercial pilot and the airline transport pilot-rated passenger received fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. Before the takeoff, the pilot reportedly requested maintenance on the airplane. A witness stated the pilot told him he wanted to fly the airplane to another airport to have the problem looked at before returning to Florida. Later, another witness watched the takeoff, noting that the aircraft appeared to rotate really late, using approximately 4000 feet of runway. He stated the airplane climbed to about 400 or 500 feet, then spun to the left, making three complete turns before disappearing behind the trees.
April 05, 2004, Johns Island, S.C. / Smith Aerostar 601P
At 1526 Eastern time, a Smith Aerostar 601P crashed during its initial climb after takeoff from the Charleston Executive Airport, Johns Island, S.C. The commercial pilot and the airline transport pilot-rated passenger received fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. Before the takeoff, the pilot reportedly requested maintenance on the airplane. A witness stated the pilot told him he wanted to fly the airplane to another airport to have the problem looked at before returning to Florida. Later, another witness watched the takeoff, noting that the aircraft appeared to rotate really late, using approximately 4000 feet of runway. He stated the airplane climbed to about 400 or 500 feet,...
Key Takeaways:
- A Smith Aerostar 601P crashed shortly after takeoff from Charleston Executive Airport, resulting in fatal injuries to the commercial pilot and passenger, and destruction of the aircraft.
- Prior to takeoff, the pilot had reportedly requested maintenance and intended to fly the plane to another airport for repairs before returning to Florida.
- Witnesses observed the aircraft used approximately 4000 feet of runway for rotation, climbed to 400-500 feet, then spun left three times before disappearing behind trees.
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