What happened
During a night departure from Charleston Airport, an aircraft experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure during its initial climb. An engine malfunctioned, leading to a fire and a subsequent explosion. This event caused the plane to lose altitude rapidly, preventing the crew from maintaining flight.
The aircraft descended into a residential district situated approximately 1.7 miles from the airfield. The impact and resulting fire struck several homes within the neighborhood. The accident resulted in five fatalities among the onboard crew and six serious injuries. Additionally, the crash caused the deaths of four individuals residing in the impacted houses.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary factor in the accident was an engine explosion occurring during the climb phase of the flight.