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King Air 350 Accident Proved to Be Fatal Misstep

A fatal 2019 King Air 350 accident near Dallas exhibited all the signs of a random pilot error.

A fatal King Air 350 accident in 2019 near Dallas exhibited all the signs of a random pilot error. [Glenn Watson]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A Beechcraft King Air 350 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 10 people aboard, after its left engine lost power.
  • The NTSB concluded the pilot's fatal error was applying the wrong rudder pedal (left instead of right) in response to the engine failure, causing an extreme yaw and loss of control.
  • While the engine power loss was speculatively linked to a faulty power lever friction setting, the pilot's known habit of not using checklists and failing to follow emergency procedures were cited as contributing factors.
  • The incident highlights that even highly experienced pilots can make critical errors, like incorrect rudder input during an engine failure, leading to catastrophic outcomes, especially without strict adherence to procedures.
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On June 30, 2019, a Beechcraft King Air 350 twin turboprop, leaving Addison Airport (KADS) near Dallas on a flight to Florida, crashed into a hangar beside the runway. Either the impact or the ensuing explosion and fire killed all 10 people aboard.

The catastrophe was recorded by a number of surveillance cameras, some located not far from the point of impact. Video showed the airplane airborne, initially drifting left, then yawing left to an extreme sideslip angle before rapidly rolling into an inverted dive. The sequence took just a few seconds. Once the left wing had dropped, the low altitude made recovery impossible.

Peter Garrison

Peter Garrison taught himself to use a slide rule and tin snips, built an airplane in his backyard, and flew it to Japan. He began contributing to FLYING in 1968, and he continues to share his columns, ""Technicalities"" and ""Aftermath,"" with FLYING readers.

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