Airplane Went Down Just After Departure Just After Noon Wednesday

Two people were fatally injured Wednesday when the vintage T-6 Texan they were aboard went down just after takeoff from Naval Air Station Kingsville near Corpus Christi, TX.

Fox News reports that both people on board the aircraft were civilians. They reportedly had been visiting an employee at the airfield, and were leaving the field when the accident occurred.

A witness told television station KIII that the pilot appeared to lose control of the airplane, which rolled back towards the hangars after takeoff. It is not known if there was a mechanical failure with the airplane, or if the strong winds in the area at midday Wednesday was a factor. Witnesses did say they heard the engine increase power just before the plane went down.

Navy firefighting personnel extinguished the post-impact fire. The Navy confirmed that there was no damage to the airfield's runway or equipment, and that  no navy personnel were injured in the accident.

The NTSB has opened an investigations into the incident.

(Image from NAS Kingsville Facebook page)

FMI: Original report