plane crash in Kent

Carolly · Post by **Carolly** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:25 pm

Hope this helps Fuzz.

Two pilots and three passengers have been killed after their small plane crashed into a housing estate in Farnborough, Kent.

No survivors were found after the Cessna Citation 1 jet came down in Romsey Close at about 1430 BST.

The plane - which was en route from nearby Biggin Hill airfield to France - burst into flames, destroying a garage and house, which was empty at the time.

No-one on the ground was badly injured, but two people were treated for shock.

The people who live in the damaged house were away on holiday.

They have returned since the crash and are being comforted by friends.

'We're going down'

It is thought the plane got into difficulties just after take-off from Biggin Hill.

As I turned off the runway, I looked back and saw the plane drop out of the sky

Jon

Pilot at Biggin Hill

In pictures: Plane crash

What eyewitnesses saw

Andrew Walters, chairman of Biggin Hill Airport, confirmed that the passengers were on a business trip to France. The aircraft had just taken off when the pilot made an emergency call and asked for permission to land again.

"Unfortunately it crashed before reaching the airport," Mr Walters said.

A pilot named as John, who was landing another plane at Biggin Hill, heard the mayday call. The Cessna pilot reported "severe engine vibrations", he said.

He told the BBC: "You could hear the alarms in the cockpit.

"The pilot came back over the radio a second or two later and said 'We're going down, we're going down'.

"The radio stayed live, and as I turned off the runway I looked back and I saw the plane basically drop out of the sky.

"And then the radio went dead and black smoke came up from over the hill."

'Felt the heat'

Local residents said they heard a "roar" and saw the plane flying along at a "funny angle" with its tail down and nose up. In the aftermath of the crash, they said the air was thick with the smell of fuel.

Matthew Wincott, 37, who lives opposite, said: "I'd just finished lunch when I heard an almighty roar. I looked out of the back window and saw this stunning jet coming into view.

CESSNA CITATION 1

First produced in 1976

Two Pratt & Whitney engines

Capacity of eight people

Max speed 647km/h

Max take-off weight 10,850lbs

Production ceased 1985

"It was banking slightly. I ran out of the front of the house. It just hit the ground and burst into flames.

"It was absolute carnage. I couldn't get anywhere near the plane, but I could feel the heat."

Another eyewitness, Jamie Foot, 17, was watching TV on the sofa when he saw the plane "come over the top of the garage".

"There was a massive explosion and a big fireball and smokeball went up in the air," he said.

Locals have said it was a "miracle" no-one living in the street was injured or killed and that no-one was at home in the house which bore the brunt of the crash.

Next-door neighbour Christine Diamond, said the owners, Pat and Ed Harman, were away on holiday.

"They are going to be absolutely devastated by this, but I'm just so glad that they weren't inside at the time," she said.

Ian Todd, of the London Ambulance Service, said he was "grateful that there hasn't been a greater loss of life."

In the wake of the crash, local residents were evacuated. People living around the site will not be able to return to their homes on Sunday night.

Accident inspectors were sent to the scene, while eight fire engines and 40 firefighters worked to tackle the blaze.

Bodies in the wreckage have not yet been recovered. Work at the crash site has been suspended for the night and will resume on Monday, police said.

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:26 pm

Two pilots and three passengers have been killed after their small plane crashed into a housing estate in Farnborough, Kent.

No survivors were found after the Cessna Citation 1 jet came down in Romsey Close at about 1430 BST.

The plane - which was en route from nearby Biggin Hill airfield to France - burst into flames, destroying a garage and house, which was empty at the time.

No-one on the ground was badly injured, but two people were treated for shock.

The people who live in the damaged house were away on holiday.

They have returned since the crash and are being comforted by friends.

'We're going down'

It is thought the plane got into difficulties just after take-off from Biggin Hill.

Andrew Walters, chairman of Biggin Hill Airport, confirmed that the passengers were on a business trip to France. The aircraft had just taken off when the pilot made an emergency call and asked for permission to land again.

"Unfortunately it crashed before reaching the airport," Mr Walters said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7321589.stm

Terrible tragedy R.I.P

venus · Post by **venus** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:27 pm

this is quite sad, but l have to say how lucky for the family of the destroyed house.. It could have been a whole lot worse if they where there.:-1

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:27 pm

We posted at the same time carol and from the same source lol:-6

Carolly · Post by **Carolly** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:46 pm

fuzzy butt;821092 wrote: Wow it sounds like it literally fell out of the sky .

Sounds like the people on the ground were extremely lucky.:-2

I think I would be treated for shock too if a plane crashed into my estate. WOW!!!

The passengers wouldn't have known but the pilot would have definately known that he was speaking his last words ................How terrible .:(I wont fly Fuzz............I used to but had a bad experience...........oh I know all about Im more likely to be knocked down or have a car accident but I just felt so hopeless up there.........indeed it was a terrible thing to happen Fuzz.