At 1315 eastern time, a Cessna 205 crashed just after takeoff from Greensburg Jeannette Regional Airport, killing the pilot and three skydivers and leaving a fourth skydiver seriously injured. Witnesses said the engine began to sputter when the airplane was about a quarter mile from the runway. The pilot apparently tried to execute a turn back to land in the opposite direction, but the engine stopped sputtering and the turn was continued until the airplane was perpendicular to the runway. The airplane began to climb, then the engine ceased and the airplane crashed into trees. Examination of the wreckage found the fuel in the tanks, lines and boost pump was contaminated. The operator had been fueling the airplane from plastic fuel containers, but the fuel tanks were not found.
June 15, Jeannette, Pa. / Cessna 205
At 1315 eastern time, a Cessna 205 crashed just after takeoff from Greensburg Jeannette Regional Airport, killing the pilot and three skydivers and leaving a fourth skydiver seriously injured. Witnesses said the engine began to sputter when the airplane was about a quarter mile from the runway. The pilot apparently tried to execute a turn back to land in the opposite direction, but the engine stopped sputtering and the turn was continued until the airplane was perpendicular to the runway. The airplane began to climb, then the engine ceased and the airplane crashed into trees. Examination of the wreckage found the fuel in the tanks, lines and boost pump was contaminated. The operator had been...
Key Takeaways:
- A Cessna 205 crashed shortly after takeoff from Greensburg Jeannette Regional Airport, killing four people and seriously injuring one.
- Witnesses observed the engine sputtering and the pilot attempting a turn back to the runway before the engine ceased and the aircraft crashed into trees.
- Investigation revealed contaminated fuel in the aircraft's system, with the operator suspected of fueling from plastic containers.
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