...Fifth in Serious Condition

The AP reports that witnesses heard signs of engine trouble on takeoff, as what was described as a well-maintained C-205 jump plane didn't make altitude on takeoff. The crash, we're told, occured about 100 feet past the end of the runway; the pilot and three of the jumpers died. The fourth jumper, in serious condition at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, was found about fifteen feet from the wreck. The name of the lone survivor has not been released.

Killed in the wreck were Charles Bryant, 61, of Greensburg, the owner of the plane and a veteran of over 3000 jumps; David Ray, 49, of Seward, and Terry Blanish, 52, of West Newton, with 2000+ jumps -- all of Pennsylvania. The 52-year-old pilot, from the Pittsburgh area, was not identified publicly. He had made jump flights with Bryant before and was experienced in the airplane, Bryant's son told reporters.

Chuck Bryant's Skydive Bouquet, we're told, has a solid local reputation for experience and safety.

**   Report created 6/16/2003   Record 1  **
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 124A        Make/Model: C205      Description:
  Date: 06/15/2003     Time: 1712
  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
  City: JEANNETTE   State: PA   Country: US
DESCRIPTION
  ACFT ABORTED TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 2 AND OVER RAN THE RUNWAY, SLIDING DOWN A 50FT EMBANKMENT COMING TO REST UPSIDE DOWN, FIVE PERSONS ON BOARD, FOUR WERE FATALLY INJURIED AND ONE SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES, JEANNETTE, PA
INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   4
                 # Crew:  1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   Y
                 # Pass:   4     Fat:   3     Ser:   1     Min:   0     Unk:   Y
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
WEATHER: METAR KLBE 151647Z 00000KT FEW050 SCT070 SCT095 24/14 A3008
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Take-off      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: JEANNETTE, PA               Dep Date:    Dep. Time:
  Destination: UNK                      Flt Plan: UNK          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: UNK
  Last Clearance: UNK
  FAA FSDO: ALLEGHENY CO., PA  (EA03)             Entry date: 06/16/2003