US Airways Express Flight 5481, a Beechcraft 1900D operated by Air Midwest as US Airways Express under a franchise agreement, crashed into an airport hangar and burst into flames 37 seconds after leaving Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina for Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in Greer, South Carolina on January 9, 2003. All 19 passengers and 2 pilots aboard were killed in the accident, 1 person on the ground received minor injuries. January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A Sunwest Airlines Beech 1900D at Vancouver International Airport. ... This article is about the regional airline based in Wichita, KS. For the article regarding the renamed Midwest Express, see Midwest Airlines. ... US Airways Express is a brand name used by several airlines which provide feederliner service for US Airways from smaller markets in the United States, Canada, and the Bahamas to its major stations at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport, New York Citys LaGuardia Airport... Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (IATA: CLT, ICAO: KCLT) is an airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina. ... Nickname: The Queen City, Hornets Nest Location in Mecklenburg County in the state of North Carolina Coordinates: Country United States State North Carolina Counties Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Mayor Pat McCrory, (R) Area    - City 280. ... Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is an airport in Greer, South Carolina, USA, near Greenville, South Carolina and Spartanburg, South Carolina. ... Greer is a suburb of Greenville and Spartanburg located in Greenville and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina. ... January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Cause of the crash

Investigation revealed that turnbuckles controlling tension on the cables to the elevators had been set incorrectly, resulting in the pilots not having sufficient control. After take-off, the plane climbed steeply before stalling, despite both pilots pushing the control column forward. The aircraft's most recent service was two nights before the crash. Flight 5481 was the heaviest load the aircraft had carried since its scheduled maintenance; the aircraft was close to its maximum allowable weight.

External links

• Investigators check black boxes from N.C. plane crash