5 Survive Fiery Beechcraft Bonanza Crash in Pennsylvania

According to the FAA, the 1981 Beechcraft A36TC Bonanza had just taken off from Lancaster Airport (KLNS) when the pilot reported he needed to return. 

The airport is a Class D towered facility with two runways: Runway 8/26, which measures 6,933 feet by 150 feet, and Runway 13/31, which measures 4,102 feet by 100 feet. The METAR at the time of the accident indicated the winds were 280 degrees  at 17 knots with gusts to 30 knots and visibility was 10 miles. The aircraft took off from Runway 26.

According to Liveatc.net, shortly after takeoff the pilot advised air traffic control (ATC) that the aircraft had an open door and needed to return to the airport.

The controller asked the pilot if he wanted Runway 31 or 26. The pilot replied, "I cannot hear you with the wind," and announced intentions to land on Runway 26.

The controller cleared the pilot to land on Runway 26, and the pilot read back the instruction. The next transmission was the controller calling, "Bonanza 347 Mike! Pull up!"

ADS-B showed the aircraft entered a climbing left turn before descending into the parking lot of a retirement community. A post-crash fire ensued, sending up thick black smoke. There were no injuries on the ground or structures damaged, however, several cars and the aircraft were destroyed by the fire.

“I would say from our initial look it appears that it may have skidded approximately 100 feet after it made contact with the ground,” Manheim Township Police Chief Duane Fisher said following the crash, according to a report by Philadelphia’s WCAU-TV.

Authorities said all five persons on board the aircraft survived and were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries. Two were transported to a local burn center by PennStar flight crews, and another was transported by ambulance.