4 dead in crash of small plane at N.M. airport

ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) — Four people died Saturday in a fiery crash of a test twin-engine luxury business aircraft at Roswell's airport, authorities said.

A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration said the plane involved was a twin-engine Gulfstream G6. Police and fire department officials confirmed that the small plane crashed at the Roswell International Air Center, but couldn't immediately provide other details.

FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford said two pilots and two flight test engineers were aboard the plane when it went down about 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

The plane was practicing takeoffs and landings and Lunsford said it had just taken off when it rolled and slammed into the runway. He said the plane's gear collapsed and the craft burst into flames.

Roswell Fire Department officials said there were no other injuries and the names of the victims aboard the plane weren't immediately known.

Lunsford said the plane was owned by Savannah, Ga.-based Gulfstream, but it wasn't immediately clear whether the four people aboard were employed by the company.

Calls to Gulfstream for comment on the crash and information on the victims weren't immediately returned Saturday.

Gulfstream reportedly began taking orders on the nearly $60 million G6 jets in April 2010 with delivery expected sometime next year.

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