March 15, 2012, Franklin, N.C., Cessna 501 Citation I/SP

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1350 Eastern time while landing. The private pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. Two witnesses reported the airplane was high during its initial approach, performed a go-around, and made a left turn for another approach. During the second approach, the airplane was high again and the approach steepened, nose-down onto the runway.

Editorial Staff

Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An airplane crashed during landing, resulting in five fatalities (the private pilot and four passengers) and substantial damage.
The incident involved two approach attempts, both described as initially high, with the second approach becoming steeply nose-down before an abnormal nosegear-first touchdown.
After bouncing upon initial touchdown, the aircraft's engine noise increased, it banked right, its wing contacted the ground, and it subsequently flipped over off the runway, followed by a post-crash fire.

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The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1350 Eastern time while landing. The private pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

Two witnesses reported the airplane was high during its initial approach, performed a go-around, and made a left turn for another approach. During the second approach, the airplane was high again and the approach steepened, nose-down onto the runway. The nosegear touched down approximately halfway down the runway, followed by main gear touchdown. The airplane then bounced and the witnesses heard the engine noise increase. It then banked right and the right wing contacted the ground. The airplane subsequently flipped over off the right side of the runway. A post-crash fire ensued.