RAYTHEON BEECH KING AIR A90, PENSACOLA, FLA., AUG. 17, 2004–Taking off from Pensacola Regional for a post-maintenance test flight, Eclipse Enterprises’ King Air N45TT suddenly returned to the airport and crashed on the runway. The pilot and passenger were uninjured but the airplane was severely damaged. According to a Pensacola News Journal report, a witness on the airport heard a loud “pop” as the airplane climbed out. “It seemed like it lost an engine,” he said. “It stopped gaining altitude.” The aircraft banked to return to the airfield. It appeared
to line up for the approach but suddenly “veered to the right” as the landing gear came down. The article said the airplane “cartwheeled and crashed, catching fire briefly as it came to rest” off the runway. Weather was evidently not a factor.