What happened
On September 15, 2016, at approximately 0308 Universal Time, a Little Eagle LE500 with registration B-9246 crashed near the Luan Cheng General Aviation Airport in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, China.
The aircraft was performing an exhibition flight and had been airborne for approximately 10 minutes, remaining within the airport pattern. During the flight, the pilot transmitted a radio message indicating a malfunction. Shortly after, the aircraft impacted flat terrain located roughly 1,640 feet from the approach end of runway 18.
The accident resulted in 4 fatalities, involving the pilot and three passengers. The aircraft was destroyed by a post-crash fire.
The investigation
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) led the investigation into the accident. Because the engine was manufactured in the United States, the NTSB appointed a United States accredited representative to assist the CAAC.