Spectrum 33 Prototype Crash Kills Two

On Tuesday at about 4:05 p.m. local time, the sole Spectrum 33 prototype crashed on the side of the runway while taking off from Spanish Fork Airport, Utah, on what was to be a routine test flight. Witnesses reported that the right wing hit the ground and the airplane cartwheeled, leaving a trail of debris before coming to rest in a pasture northwest of the airport. According to a company spokesman, the two crewmembers–Spectrum director of flight operations Glenn Maben and vice director Nathan Forrest–were killed in the accident. The crash and ensuing fire destroyed the all-composite Williams FJ33-powered twinjet. NTSB and FAA investigators are still examining the crash scene.