CARLSBAD, Calif. — Federal officials say four people were killed when a twin-engine plane skidded off an airport runway Tuesday and burst into flames.


The jet-engined Cessna 560 was landing at McClellan-Palomar Airport on a flight from Hailey, Idaho, when it skidded off the end of a runway at about 6:40 a.m., said Mike Fergus, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman in Seattle.

It hit a shack that held the airport's instrument landing system equipment, Fergus said.

"All four on board were killed," he said.

The airport, 30 miles north of San Diego, serves private planes, business jets and two commuter airlines, America West Express and United Express.

Crews from the airport and Carlsbad fire departments were on scene. No one on the ground was reported hurt.

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First the Cirrus now a Citation... what's going on?

Jeff

I've seen this one mentioned a lot in today's news, but it's sorely lacking for details. Was there ice on the ground(so.cali??)? Bum brakes? Hot approach? I don't know much about the Cessna 560, never even heard of it. It must be a numeric model for a small Citation. I'm waiting for someone more outspoken than me to say something witty about the impact with the ILS transmitter shack. "Morton was a stickler for keeping those needles centered...even on landing rollout..."

Sorry...shouldn't poke fun. Respect and well wishes to their families.

Z

Helluva way to end a Sun Valley ski trip.

Read this in another report:

Norman Boyd said he saw the plane as he drove near the airport on his way to work.

"Its landing gear was up and it was going down really fast," Boyd, who worked on aircraft in the Navy, said in a telephone interview. "It was heading toward the runway and the approaching speed was way beyond what it should be."

zane wrote:"Its landing gear was up and it was going down really fast," Boyd, who worked on aircraft in the Navy, said in a telephone interview. "It was heading toward the runway and the approaching speed was way beyond what it should be."

Ok, was the gear or the plane "going down really fast" Makes ya' wonder what the problem was. I guess we can expect a flurry of proposed legislation that will help protect the public from those darned dangerous flying machines skidding off the airports. Big nets or arresting cables or ? Shame on me for giving them idea's.

Mark

Congressional hearings coming to a TV near you.