Central Air Charter

The aircraft departed Garden City under extremely poor weather conditions. More than half way to Dodge City, the pilot reported engine problems to Kansas City (ARTCC). Vectors were provided to the Dodge City Airport, but the pilot did not maintain assigned headings. The aircraft headed back towards Garden City to attempt an instrument approach. Radar vectors were provided for the localizer approach. Radar indicated that the aircraft did not become stabilized on the approach. There was a significant loss of ground speed as the pilot was attempting to get established on the localizer. Radar contact was lost about 2 miles from the airport at a speed approaching stall speed for this aircraft. The aircraft crashed about 2 miles short and to the right of course. The aircraft impacted in a vertical nose down attitude on heading which indicated a turn away from the airport. The left prop was found in the feather position. No mechanical problem was discovered. The right engine appeared to be producing full power at impact. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

The pilot was on the fourth leg of a night cargo flight cruising at approximately 500 feet agl enroute to Mt Vernon, IL, when the aircraft struck some trees and subsequently collided with the ground. The engines and propellers were both torn down and tested and no evidence of malfunction was discovered. The pilot stated he did not recall the crash sequence at all. The pilot was wearing a 'walkman' radio at the time of the accident. He stated it was to help keep him awake, because he had fallen asleep at times in the past while flying night cargo.

The pilot stated that approximately 15 minutes from his destination the low fuel light illuminated in the cockpit. The aircraft was flown for approximately 10 minutes when the engines sputtered and quit. The pilot stated he 'came in too hot' and bounced off the runway, pulled the gear up looked for a field or road finally coming to rest on a frozen pond. Post accident investigation revealed less than 2 gallons of fuel aboard the aircraft.

While descending by night to Twin Falls, both engines stopped simultaneously. Due to loss of speed, the airplane lost height. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane struck power cables and crashed in a snow covered field. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.