Hearings into Air Midwest crash reveal aircraft was overweight

Airline Industry Information, May 21, 2003

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Ongoing hearings into the crash of an Air Midwest aircraft in North Carolina in January 2003 have revealed that the crew struggled to push the aircraft's nose down.

The US Airways Express jet crashed at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, North Carolina, shortly after takeoff on 8 January. The Beech 1900 twin-engine turboprop aircraft reportedly lost altitude shortly after takeoff before veering slightly, clipping the side of a maintenance hangar and flipping onto its back. The aircraft was carrying 19 passengers and two crew members, who were all killed.

Evidence at the hearings also revealed for the first time that the aircraft was overweight and its load slightly tail-heavy. However, the formula accepted by the industry at the time for estimating weight was applied correctly.

((Comments on this story may be sent to aii.feedback@m2.com))