Gulfstream Aerospace Gulfstream G650 plane crash
Roswell, New Mexico, USA
Updated on
The Gulfstream G650 belonging to Gulfstream Aerospace (the Gulfstream manufacturer) took off from Roswell International Air Center Airport, New Mexico, United States of America, for a test flight. Four crewmembers (two pilots and two flight test engineers) were onboard. The plane crashed just after the lift-off, killing all the four occupants.
The airplane was one of five G650’s engaged in flight testing as part of the model’s FAA and EASA certification program. The aircraft - operating as Gulfstream Test 31 - had spent the morning, approximately 2.5h, conducting takeoff-performance and brake testing. It was then just another takeoff: the plane was cleared for takeoff on runway 15. On its take-off roll the aircraft had just gotten airborne when the right wingtip struck the ground, causing the aircraft to lose altitude, collapsing the gear, skidding on the runway and catching fire.
The plane skidded and came to a stop a few yards away from the control tower. The fire has completely destroyed the plane. Two Gulfstream pilots and two Gulfstream flight-test engineers died in the crash.
The winds were under 10kts at the time of the accident.
