By George Gordon, Daily Mail

Last updated at 09:18 02 May 2003

Airlines in the US are being urged to raise their estimates of the weight of passengers after suggestions that a plane crashed because it was too heavily loaded.

The commuter craft was carrying its full complement of 19 passengers when it corkscrewed into the ground shortly after take-off from Charlotte airport in North Carolina in January.

Witnesses said the U.S. Airways plane, a Beech 1900D, seemed to struggle from the start. The plane turned into a fireball and many of the bodies were so badly burned that they were unrecognisable.

Investigators have calculated that it would have been just 100lbs under its maximum take-off weight if they used Federal Aviation Administration guidelines of 13stone 3lbs per passenger.

But they believe it may have been above its maximum weight because of the increasing problem of obesity in the U.S.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has now directed 15 small airlines to weigh passengers and their luggage before they board similar-sized planes.

The FAA suggests raising the passenger weight estimate to 190lbs (13st 8lb) from May to October 31, and to 195lbs (13st 13lb) during the winter months when people wear more clothes.

The change will not have a major effect on big jets, but operators of small planes say it could have a big impact because their planes are more weight-sensitive.

'We will either have to reduce cargo, carry fewer passengers or buy bigger planes,' said one operator.

Earlier this year a survey in New York found that passengers weighed an average of 15st 6lb, including hand baggage.