Country
Crash of a Beechcraft C90 King Air in Newton: 2 killed
Date & Time:
Feb 16, 1998 at 0936 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N5WU
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Morgantown - Charleston
MSN:
LJ-635
YOM:
1974
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total hours on type:
6155.00
Aircraft flight hours:
7523
Circumstances:
The airplane was flown from Morgantown to Charleston to drop off passengers. Once there, the pilot called the mechanic who was scheduled to replace the right transfer pump, and told him the right boost pump was also inoperative. The mechanic told the pilot, he would replace both pumps the next morning in Charleston. Adding that de-fueling the airplane would take longer than changing the pumps. The mechanic recalled that the pilot was concerned about the amount of time necessary for the repair. The airplane was then repositioned back to Morgantown for another flight the next day to Charleston. The morning of the accident, the airplane departed Morgantown, and was being vectored for the ILS approach to Charleston when the copilot declared an emergency. He then announced that they had 'a dual engine failure, two souls onboard and zero fuel.' Examination of the wreckage and both engines revealed no pre-impact failures or malfunctions. With the right transfer pump inoperative. 28 gallons of fuel in the right wing would be unusable. In addition, the flight manual states that 'both boost pumps must be operable prior to take-off.'
Probable cause:
The pilot inadequate management of the fuel system which resulted in fuel starvation to both engines. Factors in the accident were the pilot's concern about maintenance being completed prior to executing a scheduled flight later in the day, and operating the airplane with known deficiencies.
Final Report:
Crash of a Beechcraft F90 King Air in Bhilainagar: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Feb 2, 1998 at 1916 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VT-ELZ
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
New Delhi - Bhilainagar
MSN:
LA-233
YOM:
1985
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
SAIL King Air F90 aircraft VT-ELZ was involved in an accident near Bhilai Airfield on 02-02-98 during private flight from I.G.I. Airport, New Delhi to Bhilai Airfield. The pilot while on direct track to Bhilai at 76 DME from Raipur and FL070 insisted for further descent reporting bad weather. ATC Raipur cleared him for descend to 2,700 feet on QNH of Raipur i.e. below MORA and MSA. On descending the navigation and communication guidance became intermittent and unreliable. Due to severe weather activities the aircraft diverted 40 NMs right of the track. The pilot while steering in the Easterly direction i.e. towards the destination in the darkness on the evening hours flew into rising terrain and collided with a hill resulting into fatal injuries to all the occupants
and post accident fire. Aircraft was completely destroyed. Crash occurred 10 minutes to ETA.
and post accident fire. Aircraft was completely destroyed. Crash occurred 10 minutes to ETA.
Probable cause:
The aircraft in flight collided with rising terrain when the pilot flew below the height of the hill top during circumnavigating bad weather and attempting to reach destination by maintaining visual contact with ground. Weather, disregard to standard operating procedures and night flying were considered as contributing factors.
Final Report:
Crash of a Beechcraft A90 King Air in Selmer
Date & Time:
Jan 22, 1998 at 0730 LT
Registration:
N911KA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nashville - Selmer
MSN:
LJ-254
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
1500.00
Aircraft flight hours:
8842
Circumstances:
According to the pilot, upon landing in heavy rain, the airplane began hydroplaning. He said the airplane departed the left side of the runway, striking trees, which damaged both wings and collapsed the landing gear. A witness stated the airplane touched down in moderate rain.
Probable cause:
The loss of control on the ground, due to hydroplaning, and a collision with trees. A factor was the rain.
Final Report:
Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A90 King Air in Wheeling
Date & Time:
Nov 13, 1997 at 2141 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N80GP
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bristol - Washington DC
MSN:
LJ-137
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Aircraft flight hours:
7290
Circumstances:
The pilots reported they experienced an engine fire during a missed approach in night, IMC conditions, and feathered the propeller and shut down the engine. On an approach to another airport, the airplane touched down short of the runway, traveled onto the runway, and then departed the left side of the runway. The pilot reported he could not maintain altitude due to ice accumulations, and the lack of power with one engine shut down. Examination of the wreckage revealed rotational damage to both engines and propellers consistent with operating engines. Neither propeller was in the feathered position. The pilot had been briefed about known moderate icing conditions, and isolated severe icing. The AFM recommended a minimum speed in icing conditions of 140 knots, and at less than 140 knots, ice could accumulate on the wings in unprotected areas. The pilot reported he flew the approach at 114 knots.
Probable cause:
The failure of the pilot to maintain the minimum required airspeed while operating in icing conditions which resulted in ice accumulations and an inadvertent stall while on approach. Factors were the icing conditions and the pilot's lack of experience in the airplane.
Final Report:
