Huntsville International Arpt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Huntsville, Alabama 35824
Wednesday, June 18, 2014 14:24 CDT

On June 18, 2014, about 1424 central daylight time, an Israel Aircraft Industries 1124A, N793BG, crashed into a field during takeoff from Huntsville International Airport-Carl T. Jones Field, Huntsville, Alabama. The airline transport rated check pilot, airline transport rated pilot, and airline transport rated pilot-passenger were fatally injured; the airplane was destroyed by impact and a post-crash fire. The airplane was registered to and operated by SynFuels Holdings Finance LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 pilot proficiency flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. According to the company's Chief Pilot, the purpose of the flight was pilot proficiency examinations (PPE) for 2 company contracted pilots. According to preliminary air traffic control communications with Huntsville air traffic control tower (HSV ATCT), one of the pilots advised the local controller that the flight was inbound for an intended full stop taxi-back landing. The flight cleared the runway after landing and requested a brief delay on Whiskey taxiway for a crew swap. After the brief delay on the taxiway, at about 1422, a crew member of the airplane advised the controller that they were ready to go and "we'd like to have a couple more ILS's before we depart the area." The controller asked the flight crew to confirm they wanted to execute a couple ILS approaches to which the occupant advised roger, we want 2 ILS's and then we will depart back towards Birmingham. About 1423, the controller cleared the flight for takeoff runway 18R, runway heading and provided the wind as from 280 at 5 knots. The occupant acknowledged the takeoff clearance; there were no distress calls made by any occupant of the airplane. A review of airport security video depicted the airplane taxiing onto the runway and beginning the takeoff roll; the video continued until the airplane went approximately 1,000 feet down the runway. The airplane disappeared from view of that camera. Witnesses on the airport reported seeing the airplane climb to altitudes estimated between 50 and 200 feet, with the landing gear retracted. The airplane was observed to roll to the right to about a 90-degree right bank, and impact west of the runway. The flight crew of an airline flight that was on final approach to runway 18R both reported seeing the airplane climb steeply after becoming airborne, then observed the airplane rolling to the right to about 70 to 90 degrees of bank. The airplane was observed to impact the ground in a nose and right wing low attitude, followed by a black smoke, which was captured by another airport security camera. First responders responded to the accident site and extinguished the fire. A post accident on-scene investigation was conducted, the aircraft wreckage was recovered for further investigation, and a Cockpit Voice Recorder and Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) were located and sent to the NTSB Recorders Laboratory for review.

Not Yet Reported