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Gulfstream G650 test aircraft crashes on takeoff, killing four
US Federal Aviation Administration and Gulfstream Aerospace has confirmed has confirmed one of its five G650 test aircraft crashed at Roswell International Air Center Airport in Roswell, New Mexico, killing two pilots and two test engineers aboard.
According to the FAA, the aircraft - operating as Gulstream Test 31 - had spent the morning, approximately 2.5h, conducting takeoff-performance and brake testing when the aircraft when it was cleared for takeoff on runway 15, at around 09:30 local time.
On its takeoff 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.
Gulfstream Aerospace president, Joe Lombardo, says: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who were lost," adding "We are cooperating 100 percent with the investigation."
Both National Transportation Safety Board and FAA investigators are enroute to the scene.
A source familiar with the accident says S/N 6002, registered N652GD, was the airframe involved. S/N 6002 first flew on 25 February 2010 and was tasked with validating the aircraft's systems, as part of the planned 1,800h certification campaign.
Gulfstream has targeted 2011 for FAA and EASA certification of the large cabin ultra-long range G650, with its first planned delivery in 2012.
Gulfstream G650 test aircraft crashes on takeoff, killing four
US Federal Aviation Administration and Gulfstream Aerospace has confirmed has confirmed one of its five G650 test aircraft crashed at Roswell International Air Center Airport in Roswell, New Mexico, killing two pilots and two test engineers aboard.
According to the FAA, the aircraft - operating as Gulstream Test 31 - had spent the morning, approximately 2.5h, conducting takeoff-performance and brake testing when the aircraft when it was cleared for takeoff on runway 15, at around 09:30 local time.
On its takeoff 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.
Gulfstream Aerospace president, Joe Lombardo, says: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who were lost," adding "We are cooperating 100 percent with the investigation."
Both National Transportation Safety Board and FAA investigators are enroute to the scene.
A source familiar with the accident says S/N 6002, registered N652GD, was the airframe involved. S/N 6002 first flew on 25 February 2010 and was tasked with validating the aircraft's systems, as part of the planned 1,800h certification campaign.
Gulfstream has targeted 2011 for FAA and EASA certification of the large cabin ultra-long range G650, with its first planned delivery in 2012.
Gulfstream G650 test aircraft crashes on takeoff, killing four
