Bizjet crash in Panama

[Airbubba]

Seven Die in Plane Crash at Panama Airport

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: July 3, 2004

Filed at 1:22 a.m. ET

PANAMA CITY (AP) -- A U.S.-registered small jet crashed into an airport hangar during takeoff Friday and burst into flames, killing seven people, officials said.

The dead included all six people aboard the aircraft and a Panamanian man on the ground. The U.S. Embassy said it was trying to confirm reports that four Americans and two Italians were aboard the plane.

The plane, which was ferrying a patient from Ecuador to Washington, D.C., crashed at Panama City's Tocumen international. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion and then saw a ball of fire and smoke.

``All those aboard were killed,'' said Humberto Chavarria, assistant director of Panama's Civil Aviation Authority. ``The pilot lost control, veered off course and crashed.''

He said the tank exploded upon impact and the plane was destroyed.

The plane had stopped in Panama to refuel. Other flights at the airport continued normally Friday, authorities said.

[lordproteron]

What kind of plane was it?

[FLEXJET]

A/C involved is N280AT, a 1978 Westwind-1124, s/n 247 operated by Air Ambulance by Air Trek Inc., based in Punta Gorda KPGA, Florida.

It was a departure from RWY 03 and the Westwind veered left of the RWY.



Sad.

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=N280AT&distinct_entry=true

[Kopeloi]

From latest AIN:

Investigator: No Engine Failure in Fatal Westwind Crash
The lead safety investigator in Panama said yesterday that, according to preliminary analysis of the fatal crash of an air ambulance IAI Westwind on July 2 at Tocumen International Airport, both Honeywell TFE731 engines were “spooling perfectly” before the crash. An earlier report from the FAA said there was an engine failure; other sources said possibly an uncontained engine failure. According to the investigator, during the takeoff roll, the CVR recorded the pilot saying, “I need more left rudder input.” As soon as they lifted off, the pilot was about to say something else when the copilot said “wow.” No other conversation was heard. The investigator said a witness saw the airplane pitch up “drastically,” veer to the right and crash into a hangar. Two pilots, two medical technicians, a patient and a passenger were killed. An airport worker on the ground was also killed. Key areas of initial investigation will include the pitch and rudder control system, aircraft loading and fuel-balancing. The investigator said the twinjet was at mtow, “maybe a little more or less.” N280AT, operated by Air Trek of Punta Gorda, Fla., had been refueled at previous stops, as well as Panama, on its planned flight from Ecuador to Milan, Italy, and was taking off from Panama for another fuel stop in Washington, D.C. The accident was the first fatal crash involving a U.S.-registered business jet this year, according to Robert E. Breiling Associates

[FLEXJET]

IDENTIFICATION

Regis#: 280AT
Make/Model: WEST
Description: WESTWIND ISRAELI

Date: 07/02/2004 Time: 1500


Damage: Destroyed


LOCATION

City: PANAMA CITY State: Country: PA


DESCRIPTION

ACFT, A WESTWIND ISRAELI JET/AIR CARRIER/1500E CRASHED INTO A BUILDING ON DEPARTURE. ACFT WAS ON PART 135 OPERATING ON-DEMAND PAX/CARGO, AND AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE IN PANAMA. FLIGHT WAS ON A MEDICAL MISSION FROM ECUADOR TO MILAN, ITALY AND REFUELING IN PANAMA. ACFT LOST POWER ON TAKEOFF. ACFT IS DESTROYED AND 7 FATALITIES ARE REPORTED. OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. PANAMA CITY, PANAMA


WEATHER: NOT REPORTED


OTHER DATA:

Activity: Business
Phase: Take-off
Operation: Air Taxi (On Demand)

Departed: ECUADOR
Destination: MILAN, ITALY


FAA FSDO: WASHINGTON, DC (WA45) Entry date: 07/06/2004

[kilroy]

New theory is fuel imbalance. Could u imagine if 7 peoples lives could have been save by just looking at fuel gauges. so sad