06:47 PM EDT on Monday, July 24, 2006

By WCNC.com Staff
E-mail Us: 6NEWS@WCNC.com

AirStar6

Flames are visible after a plane crashed at the Hickory Airport Monday.

HICKORY -- A pilot headed to an air show in Wisconsin died Monday after trying to take off from the Hickory Airport. The restored Korean War fighter jet crashed at the end of the runway and burst into flames.

The single seat plane crashed around 11:42 a.m. on runway 2-4 killing the pilot. The plane crashed about 7,500 feet from where it started for takeoff. The pilot has not been identified at this time.

Eyewitnesses said they saw the pilot brake three times and every time the plane skidded. The plane made it down the runway without ever leaving the ground, went down a hill, crashed through a fence and burst into flames on Second Avenue just outside the airport.

Investigators said the ejection seat in the plane was not used.

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The aircraft was a Korean War F86 Saber Jet fighter plane that dates back to the 1950's. It was fully restored and can travel up to 550 miles per hour.

Crews had been restoring the plane for the past few months to get it ready for an air show in Wisconsin. The plane had been up in the air 8-10 times in the last six months.

The FAA and the NSTB will investigate the cause of the crash.

6NEWS reporter Lisa Rantala is at the scene. Stay with WCNC.com for more details on this breaking news story.