Register

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 occupants, due to the pilot losing control following a critical left engine power loss.
  • The NTSB determined the pilot's fatal error was pressing the *left* rudder pedal instead of the correct *right* pedal in response to the engine failure, leading to an extreme yaw and unrecoverable roll at low altitude.
  • Investigators speculated the engine power loss might stem from a faulty power lever friction setting (a known King Air susceptibility), possibly exacerbated by the pilot's habit of not using checklists; however, the author questions the NTSB's emphasis and suggests the critical mistake was a random human error.
See a mistake? Contact us.

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.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE