Small plane crashes in Chachoengsao

[caller]

I read this report about the plane direction,

The plane, a Thai Flying Service Cessna Caravan C208, took off from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 2:46 p.m., bound for Ko Mai Si Airport in Trat province. Around 3:00 p.m., the aircraft lost contact with the Suvarnabhumi control tower and crashed at 3:18 p.m. in a mangrove forest in Bang Pakong district, Chachoengsao province.

A laymans point here. If losing contact at 15.00 and crashing at 15.18, what on earth was the plane doing between these times? The western extreme of Bang Pakong is about 20km from the airport, and the southern edge probably less than another 20km further on. How fast do these planes fly?

[Nereus]

Probably nothing to do with how fast it fly's. According to the weather report that I have seen, the wind was from the south, so it probably took off in that direction. However, the reported times may just be the time it was cleared for take off, rather than actual lift off time. Then, it may also have been routed well away from a direct line to where it was going, and also what altitude and speed it was allocated, all for other traffic clearance.

The reported time of the crash has come from local witnesses, rather than air traffic control, which will only show the time the aircraft disappeared from radar. And then a further delay until Somchai happens to notice that it has disappeared and reports it.

Its cruise speed is around 180 knots, best climb speed around 100 knots. Those figures are the airspeed, ground speed dependent on the wind strength aloft.