Five Lost When Jet Goes Down On Takeoff From Kent Airport

Reports from the scene of Sunday's downing of a Cessna Citation 501 business jet in Farnborough, England indicate two former automobile racers were among the five victims onboard the stricken aircraft... but possible reasons why the business jet experienced problems immediately after takeoff are hard to come by at this time.

According to numerous news reports, the Citation I departed Biggin Hill Airport in Kent bound for Pau, France Sunday afternoon. The jet (file photo of type, shown below) was less than five miles from its departure airport when the pilot issued a mayday call, and apparently attempted to steer the plane back to Biggin Hill.

"The plane was coming down with its landing gear down as if to make an emergency landing on the field," witness Gary Walcraft, 16, told CNN. "I could see someone in the plane waving frantically out of the window at us to get out of the way... But at the last second the pilot pulled up somehow and gained some height. He was trying to avoid hitting us but then he clipped some trees and smashed into the house."

The Citation impacted a vacant home in a residential area two miles from the field. The owners of the house were away on vacation when the accident occurred, and no one on the ground was injured.

Among the five victims onboard the jet were former British Touring Car Championship driver David Leslie, 54, and Apex Motorsport head Richard Lloyd, 63. The London Times identified the pilots as Michael Roberts, 63, and Michael Chapman, 57. The fifth victim was Christopher Allarton, 25.

An investigation has been launched into the downing of the aircraft, with the National Transportation Safety Board also offering its assistance.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.apexmotorsports.com