Updated Through the Day:

A commuter aircraft has gone down on takeoff at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, NC, and impacted a US Air maintenance hangar. US Airways Express officials report that "...the preliminary passenger list indicates that the aircraft carried 19 passengers and two crewmembers, although these numbers are subject to revision."

The aircraft crashed into the US Air facility, on the airport, at approximately 0840, EST. One eyewitness (whose credibility and expertise we haven't been able to confirm) says the plane had achieved about 1200 feet of altitude, when it appeared to have stalled; it seemed to recover with about 200 feet of altitude left -- then it went sraight in.

The affected flight was confirmed as Air MidWest commuter, Flight 5481, enroute to the Greenville-Spartanburg Jetport in South Carolina. The aircraft is a Beech 1900D twin turboprop, operating on a US Airways Express flight. A police source is now reporting that they have found no survivors and that there has been at least one injury to someone on the ground, though all personnel are accounted for. Some witness reports indicate the aircraft rolled to an inverted attitude prior to impact.

Crew Identified:

The crew was composed of a Captain & First Officer. The captain was Katie Leslie and the first officer was Jonathan Gibbs, both based in Charlotte, NC. "Our deepest condolences go out to the families of these employees who were exemplary members of the Air Midwest family," said Greg Stephens, President of Air Midwest, Inc.

The aircraft was 8 years old, had logged 15,010 hours, with 21,000 takeoffs and landings. This accident is the first fatal commercial US air accident in more than a year. A quick search of NTSB records indicates that the Beech 1900 series has a history of at least six accidents, involving fatalities, in the last dozen years. 

The aircraft was registered as N233YV. Air Midwest has turned over to the FAA & NTSB all records relating maintenance and history of the aircraft.

US Airways President and Chief Executive Officer David Siegel said, "All of us in the US Airways family are deeply saddened by today's Air Midwest accident in Charlotte, N.C., and I wish to express our deepest personal sympathy to the families and friends of passengers and crewmembers aboard the aircraft. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

"We do not know and cannot speculate about what happened to Flight 5481, which is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Members of both US Airways' and Air Midwest's accident investigation teams are cooperating fully with the NTSB, the Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies. They have our complete support.

"A specially trained team of US Airways employees is traveling to Charlotte and the flight's destination city of Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina, to assist the families and loved ones of those on board Flight 5481. We are also working closely with the American Red Cross, which will be providing support.

"Our first priority is to provide a supportive and responsive environment for family members, and while we cannot lessen their sorrow, we will do everything in our power to assist them during this difficult time.

"I would also like to express our deep appreciation to those people in the emergency units who responded without hesitation and with great care. We are grateful to all of them."

Jonathan Ornstein, Chairman & CEO of Mesa Air Group, said, "We are deeply saddened by today's event. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and crew of flight 5481. We are working with the NTSB and other agencies in the investigation of this accident."

[Mesa has established a special toll-free telephone number to call for information about those on board Flight 5481. The number is 1-800-679-8215 --ed.]

Watch for irresponsible/incorrect reports, too:

Unfortunately, the usual aero-ignorant media feeding frenzy is fully underway with "Scary Mary" Schiavo already engaging in wild speculation as to the causes of the accident (mind you, this while the wreckage is still visibly smoking on our TV screens) and CNN is posting specs for the Beech 1900--using a picture of a KingAir... God Help Us...

Confusion About Who's Who

Timothy E. Hoeksema, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Midwest Express Holdings, had to issue a statement, as well: "The employees of Midwest Express and Skyway Airlines express their sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic crash of US Airways Express Flight 5481. Our airline - Midwest Express Airlines - has received many inquiries today regarding the Charlotte accident, apparently because of the similarity of our names. Other than a codeshare partnership with Air Midwest that only pertains to flights to and from Kansas City, there is no relationship or affiliation between our airlines."

FMI: www.mesa-air.com; www.air_midwest.html