What happened
During an aerial demonstration at the Wilmington-New Hanover County Airport, an aircraft carrying a total of nine people experienced a catastrophic failure during its initial climb. The flight was participating in an airshow and included the crew along with six skydivers.
As the plane reached an altitude of approximately 300 feet, the aircraft entered a stall. This loss of lift led to a crash that resulted in the plane catching fire upon impact. The accident resulted in three fatalities among the passengers, while 12 other occupants sustained various injuries.
Findings
- The aircraft was in the climbing phase of flight when the incident occurred.
- The primary factor leading to the crash was an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude.