A light plane had climbed only about 200 feet before it suddenly descended and crashed at Richmond International Airport, according to the National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report on the April 11 accident.
The airplane, a twin-engine Piper Navajo, was destroyed when it crashed at 9:27 p.m. on a taxiway after takeoff from RIC's Runway 20, which heads south-southwest.
After reaching about 200 feet above ground level, the NTSB said, the airplane descended and crashed on a taxiway located parallel to Runway 20.
"Initial ground scars were observed on the taxiway about 3,500 feet beyond the approach end of the runway," according to the preliminary report, which was filed Tuesday.
Determining an accident's probable cause may take 12 to 18 months, the safety board said.
The airport fire-rescue squad responded immediately to the scene and removed the commercial pilot from the wreckage, the NTSB noted.
The pilot, Anthony L. Carr, 24, of Richmond was seriously injured in the accident.
Most of the aircraft showed extensive damage from the impact and the ensuing fire, the NTSB said. Fire nearly completely consumed the plane's tail structure.
Though the cargo flight was on an instrument flight plan to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, weather conditions around the time of the accident met Federal Aviation Administration rules for visual flying.
Visibility was reported to be 10 miles, the NTSB reported, clouds were scattered at 25,000 feet above the airport, and the wind was about 16 mph and aligned nearly straight down the runway.
The FAA and the Virginia State Police provided preliminary witness and air-traffic control information, the NTSB said.
The plane was a Piper PA-31-350 and was being operated by Airnet Systems Inc. of Columbus, Ohio.
Follow-up examination of the wreckage was scheduled for a later date, the safety board said.
Peter Bacqué
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